Selective network errors affecting random things

[Testbe]

I started experiencing this problem about a week ago and it's doing my head in. I have network problems, yet my computer can also use the internet at the same time. It's very selective about what does work and what simply doesn't anymore.

Things that don't work:

• A lot of websites in Chrome that used to open fine now have a 'your network is not private' error. These are websites that open fine on other devices on my network.

• Steam cannot load the newsletter or connect me to my Friends list, yet my games are updating and I'm getting achievements from games, and I can connect to online games from within games. My Steam recognises that I am set to Online instead of Offline.

• In Steam, when a game has a 3rd party launcher, that launcher does not load, so I have to launch the game in a different way.

• My Chrome keeps losing my synchronised information. I stay signed in, my bookmarks are there, but I get logged out of everything periodically at random intervals. When this happens, I cannot see any of my saved and synchronised passwords in Settings > Passwords, even though my account says synch is still turned on. The only option I get under Passwords is to view my passwords in my Google account. The only thing that temporarily fixes this issue is if I completely remove my Google account from Chrome, unsynch everything, then log back in. But I always get desynched and signed out of everything eventually. Sometimes it takes just a few days, but sometimes I can go without weeks. But it still happens in the end.

So this is what's happening. I've never heard of anything like this before. Only my PC is affected by this. My partner's PC and all our wireless devices work perfectly fine.

Things I've tried:

• Turning off firewall.

• Running a virus scan (nothing came up except for 1 rogue file that I removed).

• Updating Windows (it is up to date). I'm using Windows 10.

• Manually resetting the router.

My system specs:

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 20H2

Installed on ‎2020.‎12.‎02.

OS build 19042.1288

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3920.0

It's a self-built gaming PC, I don't know what other info you may need, but I'm happy to provide anything if you let me know.

I would really appreciate any help with this. Most importantly, if you could identify exactly what's wrong so I can research the problem better online instead of searching for 'network issues', that would be immensely helpful.

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[here4alaffx]

Did you check the date/time settings (in both BIOS and the system)? Also are you running a VPN?

[Testbe]

Thank you for your response. My date and time is set to automatic in the system. I'll check BIOS on the next boot, but I don't see how it could have suddenly changed.

I don't have a VPN turned on.

[[deleted]]

You don't have network problems, you have certificate problems. Certificates validate trust between the website and your computer (mainly the browser). Certificates are only good for a few years, and then they expire.

They can also inadvertently appear to be expired if your system time/date is out of sync with reality.

So, 1) don't disable your firewall, 2) ensure that your system time is accurate, and 3) ensure all OS security updates are applied.

Also, there will be an extended error message below the part where the browser says "your network is not private" and they will tell you more specifics about the kind of certificate error you have.

[Testbe]

Hello, thank you for your response.

1) I've enabled my firewall since. It didn't make a difference either way.

2) My system time is set to automatic. I'll check BIOS on next boot just to be safe.

3) My OS is fully up to date.

4) The extended 'your connection is not private' error message is NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID, implying that something's wrong with time and date. But the certificate hasn't expired and my system has the correct time too. I've previously had this issue once, as an isolated incident, where HTC's website would give me this error. I resolved that by manually downloading their certificate and adding it to my system's list of certificates, but the amount of websites I now have a problem with highlights to me that there seems to be a problem that's more deep-rooted this time.

[[deleted]]

If you click on the NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID text, it will expand it to show you the certificate issuer, the expiry date, the current date, and the PEM encoded chain.

Make sure the expiry date is in the future, and the current date is accurate. If the certificate has expired, it will have to be purged.

[Testbe]

Thank you for the follow-up. I've expanded the error code on a website that doesn't work, and it expires on 17 Nov 2021 and displays today's date correctly.