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Summary

When clicking email links from Gmail in Chrome, encountering a privacy error, often displayed as "Your connection is not private," is a common issue. This typically signifies that your browser, Chrome, cannot establish a secure connection with the website you are trying to reach. The primary cause for this error is usually related to problems with the website's Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate, which is essential for encrypting data and verifying the site's identity. While it might seem like a Gmail-specific issue, the problem generally lies with the landing page's server configuration, or sometimes with how click-tracking domains are set up in email campaigns.

What email marketers say

Email marketers often encounter privacy errors when their subscribers click links from Gmail in Chrome. These issues are frustrating because they can severely impact campaign performance and user trust. Many marketers find that the problem isn't directly with Gmail or Chrome's core functionality, but rather with the SSL configuration of the destination website or any intermediate click-tracking domains.

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks indicates that they are encountering a privacy error when clicking links from the Gmail app to Chrome. They inquire whether a disconnect between the sender domain and the site URL could be the cause.

25 Oct 2019 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks observed that if the issue affects all links in the email, including those to external sites like YouTube, it suggests the problem is likely with the sender's domain or an intermediary element rather than the destination site itself.

25 Oct 2019 - Email Geeks

What the experts say

Email deliverability experts highlight that privacy errors encountered when clicking email links are fundamentally a web security issue, not solely an email one. These experts stress the importance of a robust SSL/TLS implementation across all domains and subdomains involved in the email click path, including marketing automation platforms and third-party tracking services. The integrity of the certificate chain and domain validation are paramount for preventing such errors.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks states that Chrome often displays a privacy error when it determines that the SSL certificate presented by the landing page is not trusted. This indicates a fundamental issue with the certificate's authenticity or validity from Chrome's perspective.

25 Oct 2019 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that if all links in an email are triggering a privacy error, the issue is likely rooted in the link tracking domain used by the sender. This implies a systemic problem with how links are being processed or redirected securely.

25 Oct 2019 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says

Official browser and web security documentation consistently states that privacy errors, such as "Your connection is not private," are a direct result of a browser's inability to securely verify the identity of a website or its secure connection. These warnings are critical security mechanisms designed to protect users from potential man-in-the-middle attacks, phishing attempts, or data interception. The documentation points to fundamental issues with SSL/TLS certificates and their configuration as the root cause.

Technical article

Documentation from Kinsta explains that the "your connection is not private" error primarily arises when your browser fails to verify a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate. This verification is crucial for establishing a secure and trusted connection.

10 Apr 2024 - Kinsta

Technical article

Documentation from Avast states that "Your connection is not private" error messages typically indicate that a website's SSL certificate has expired, cannot be authenticated, or is entirely missing. These are fundamental issues preventing a secure connection.

20 Feb 2024 - Avast

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