How to Fix NET::ERR_CERT_WEAK_SIGNATURE_ALGORITHM Error?

It’s annoying when you see the error message of net::err_cert_weak_signature_algorithm. This error is related to SSL/TLS certificate of that website. We will discuss about this issue in the next paragraphs and the solutions to fix this error. Moreover, you need not worry about this error. It’s a normal error and you can fix it by following a few steps. Keep reading!

What net::err_cert_weak_signature_algorithm error means?

Whenever you face this error it means the website has an SSL/TLS certificate installed, but it’s issued with an outdated signature algorithm. The signature algorithm is one small portion of the cypher suite used to perform the encryption function to secure the connection between the client and the server. Means the SSL connection is unable to verify the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate of the website for which you are facing the issue. The user faces this error because the website is using an SSL certificate with an outdated hashing algorithm. SSL is a secure method which sends the data from your computer to the server after encryption.

What is the outdated hashing algorithm issue?

Earlier, in the digital certificates, the SHA-1 hash algorithm was used for data encryption. Later in 2017, the SHA-1 algorithm was broken by researchers at CWI and Google, which was having 160-bit longer fingerprint. Since 2017, the SHA-1 was upgraded to SHA-2, made all the certificate authorities to move from SHA-1 to SHA-2. Because SHA-2 is using 256-bit longer signature key to provide security.

If any website owner has not requested for re-issuance of the SSL certificate according to the new SHA-2 algorithm, then the browsers will show net::err_cert_weak_signature_algorithm error.

Why net::err_cert_weak_signature_algorithm error occurs?

The three main reasons behind this error are listed as under:

• The SSL connection between your computer and server is not secure
• The SSL certificate is not granted by an authorized SSL organization
• The SSL certificate is expired for the website

Apart from these reasons, some users reported that there are chances to encounter this error due to undermentioned reasons also:

• Incorrect date & time settings in your system
• Some files are remained unsaved due to sudden power loss
• Your system is switched off and not in use for a long time
• The battery is giving the warning to replace it
• Anti-virus is blocking you to open a particular site
• Your internet service provider is not allowing you to open a specific site
• Internet hackers have been ejected some virus to steal your personal information

How to determine the issue is at your end?

Before going to the part of the solutions it will be better to understand the issue. For e.g., If you are opening a URL on the Chrome browser and it’s showing the Weak Signature Algorithm error, you can try to open it on other browsers such as Firefox, Opera or UC Browser. You should also try to open it on your Android or iPhone.

Case 1: If you can open the URL successfully at other places, it means there is some issue existing in your Chrome browser. And you need to delete the browsing history and cached file from that browser. Read the steps given under Solution 1 to clear the browsing history.

Case 2: If that URL is not opening on any other of your devices, you need to change your internet connectivity then retry it. It should be solved. If the problem still remains the same, you need to reset the Network Configuration by following the steps given under Solution 2.

To fix the problem you can follow the steps mentioned below:

Fix net::err_cert_weak_signature_algorithm error

The best and effective solutions to fix the net::err_cert_weak_signature_algorithm error is listed as follows:

Clear Browsing History & Cached Files

• Open the Chrome browser and then press Ctrl+H to go to the browser history panel.

Note: You can copy and paste this URL (chrome://settings/clearBrowserData) to directly open the browsing history panel in google chrome.

• Now click on clear browsing data.

• Go to the Advanced tab.

• Choose All time as a time range and then Check all the options given there. You can uncheck “Cookies and other site data” if you don’t want to be logged out from all logged-in sites. Finally, click on clear data to clear all the history and cached files from the browser.

Reset Your Network Configuration

• Open Command Prompt by pressing Win+X+A keys together.

• Now type the below commands and process one by one to reset the network configuration

ipconfig /flushdns

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /registerdns

netsh int ip set dns

netsh winsock reset

Clear the SSL Cache to fix net::err_cert_weak_signature_algorithm error

SSL connection keeps a local copy to its server to process the data faster. There is a situation when SSL state block to connect with SSL connection and you need to clear it for opening a blocked site easily.

• Open the Internet Options by pressing Win+R key and then type inetcpl.cpl and press Ok.

• Now go to the Content tab in the opened window and then click on Clear SSL state which is given under the Certificates section.

• Now click on the OK button.

• Then try again to open the same URL for which you were facing the problem. It will be opened easily.

Reinstall the Chrome Browser

If the above solution is not working for you, you can fix the issue by uninstalling and then reinstalling the browser. Here, I have shared the process to uninstall and then reinstall the Chrome browser. If you are facing the issue with another browser, follow similar steps to resolve the issue of net::err_cert_weak_signature_algorithm.

• Press Win+X and then P to open the Control Panel and then click on Uninstall a program given below Programs.

• Now choose the browser which you want to uninstall and then right-click and select Uninstall to remove the browser from your computer.

 How to reinstall the Chrome browser?

• Download the Google Chrome browser from its official website

• Now open the downloaded file location and then start installing the .exe file as a normal software installation process.

Clear Google Chrome DNS Cache

Try to clear Google Chrome DNS cache to fix the error. To do so follow these steps:

• Launch Google Chrome.

• Type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar.

• Click Clear Host Cache button.

Disable the recently added extension

If you noticed that you are unable to open a particular website just after installing a Chrome extension, you need to disable it. Follow the steps given below to disable an extension.

• Copy and paste this URL chrome://extensions/ in a new tab in your browser. It will land you to the extensions page.

• Now click on the blue button given with the extension to disable it. If you don’t need that extension now onwards, you can click on remove.

Turn off your Firewall Settings

Sometimes, Windows Firewall blocks a few websites by marking them a spam URL. You need to cross-check the settings and disable it for opening the URL for which you are facing the issue.

• Open Control Panel by pressing Win+X+P keys together and then click on System and Security.

• In the next window, click on Windows Firewall.

• Now click on “Turn Windows Firewall on or off”.

• Select both the radio buttons given besides the “Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended)” under Private & Public network settings and then click

Conclusion

I hope, you have successfully resolved the issue of net::err_cert_weak_signature_algorithm error by following the solutions given above. We would love to know, which method helped you.

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