"This Connection is Not Private" message when using Safari

Question

Level 1

4 points

"This Connection is Not Private" message when using Safari

My MacBook Pro software is updated. It is a late 2015 model, 13" display. In the past week or so I am getting the message "This Connection is Not Private" for various websites that I use frequently. I've never encountered this before; these are both "regular" commercial websites as well as US government websites. I can get to these websites in Chrome without any such issues. I can also access these websites using my iPhone 12 Pro Max without issue. However, when I try to use my wife's MacBook Pro early 2015 model, 15" display I get the same connection message. I can also access these websites in Chrome on her MacBook as well. Based on the above, it appears to be an issue with Safari on the MacBook Pro only. Some of these websites are very important to me and I would like to access them on my MacBook Pro through Safari because I believe Safari security is better than Chrome.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.7

Posted on Sep 30, 2025 3:25 PM

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Answer 1

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

60,164 points

Sep 30, 2025 5:30 PM in response to AnnArborCPL

Ok, are you able to use this link for Treasure Direct:

https://treasurydirect.gov/

And this one for Zingermans:

https://zingermans.com/

You are using MalwareBytes, which does contain a VPN in the Plus subscription, although I am not sure what services you have subscribed to. If the above links do not work, you can try in Safe Mode. Safe Mode to help determine if it is another piece of software causing a problem.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Those links work fine on a modern version of Safari, but from your screenshots it is not clear if it is attempting the connection with "http". No "s" on the end so not security as you would find in the "https" connection. You may be able to see it by clicking in the address bar. And notice the "https" in the links above.

And I a side note, generally I would not recommend clicking a link provided to you for a Government website that may require you to enter personal information, but this site is peer reviewed and there is no attempt to spoof those addresses to trick you. It is simply to test if those correctly formatted sites work for you.

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Answer 2

Niel

Community+ 2025

Level 10

741,251 points

Sep 30, 2025 3:32 PM in response to AnnArborCPL

Safari is no longer being updated for older systems and is therefore less secure than web browsers which are on them; in particular, certificates for secure web browsing are time-limited.

(261483)

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Answer 3

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

60,164 points

Sep 30, 2025 3:36 PM in response to AnnArborCPL

If the website starts with "http" instead of "https", it is not a private connection and not secure. Yes Safari is offers more security preventing you from accessing a website that you believe to be safe where Chrome may let you proceed.

If that is not the issue, make sure you are not using a VPN. Feel free to include an example Government website that is not working for you and we can test as well.

It certainly can be a problem with the Safari version included with macOS Monterey, but that should be easy to confirm with a link that we can test.

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Answer 4

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

60,164 points

Sep 30, 2025 5:50 PM in response to AnnArborCPL

Then that would confirm as Niel suspected, it is the old version of Safari that is no longer being updated. It also indicates that those links would work fine if you did purchase a new MacBook Pro. I was able to view both of them without any problem.

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Answer 5

AnnArborCPL Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 30, 2025 5:38 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

Hello. By clicking on the addresses I verified that they both used https. I then restarted in safe mode and confirmed I was in safe mode. Neither of the links you provided worked in safe mode; same message as before. I do not have the Malware bytes upgrade to include a VPN. For the treasury direct website I always initiate the website; I do not click on links, but thanks for the warning!

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Answer 6

AnnArborCPL Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 30, 2025 3:35 PM in response to Niel

Can I conclude that the issue is due to the age of my MacBook Pro and the software, Safari, supported? Can I solve this issue by simply buying a new MacBook Pro?

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