ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR - Chrome Error

1. Configure Correct Date and Time
2. Clear Browsing Data
3. Clear Your SSL State
4. Disable QUIC Protocol of Chrome
5. Disable your Internet Browser Extensions
6. Adjust Your Internet Security and Privacy Level
7. Remove your system's hosts file
8. Check Your Antivirus Settings
9. Check Your Firewall

Configure Correct Date and Time

In many instances, the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR is triggered by incorrect date and time settings on the user's PC. The validity of SSL certificates relies heavily on accurate date and time information during the authentication process. Any discrepancies in the PC's time and date can lead to authentication problems, causing the error. To resolve this issue, it is crucial to ensure that the date and time settings on your Windows system are accurate and up-to-date, which can be accessed from the bottom right corner of the Taskbar. Verifying and adjusting the date and time settings can often rectify the problem and allow for successful SSL certificate authentication.

*Check CMOS battery if you face issue related to system cloak.

Clear Browsing Data

The browsing history data can also block the SSL protected websites. So it is better that you clear your web browsing data every now and then. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Chrome
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete simultaneously
3. Check all the options and click on Clear Data
4. Restart Chrome

Clear Your SSL State

Sometimes the SSL state would block the SSL connection. To clear the SSL state, follow the appropriate procedure below for your web browser.

1. Start menu
2. Control Panel
3. Network and internet
4. Network and sharing center
5. Click Clear SSL state, and then click OK.

Restart your Chrome and go to the website to see if successfully.

Disable QUIC Protocol of Chrome

Google Chrome utilizes the QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections) protocol by default to enhance web browsing performance. The browser places a strong emphasis on ensuring that the websites users visit are trustworthy and secure, employing various security measures such as SSL/TLS encryption and HTTPS to safeguard data during transmission. Chrome's robust security features protect users from downloading or inadvertently injecting malware, particularly from unauthorized and potentially harmful websites. These security measures, combined with regular updates and security patches, contribute to a safer and more secure browsing experience for Chrome users, reducing the risk of cyber threats and ensuring the protection of their systems and sensitive information.

1. On a new blank tab of your Chrome, go to Chrome://flags/#enable-quic
   
2. You should then see Experimental QUIC protocol on the top. On top of your screen, it would have been set as Default.
   
3. Click Disabled from the drop down menu.

Disable your Internet Browser Extensions

In certain cases, the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR error may be triggered by browser extensions. To diagnose this issue, you can try opening the same web URL in Google Chrome's Incognito mode. If the webpage loads successfully in Incognito mode, it indicates that one of your browser extensions is causing the error. Identifying the specific extension responsible can be challenging, so a prudent approach would involve systematically removing or disabling extensions one by one to pinpoint the culprit. By carefully inspecting and testing each extension's impact on web page loading, you can isolate and resolve the issue, ensuring a smooth and secure browsing experience in Google Chrome.

Use the following steps:

1. To view all Chrome Extension, type chrome://extensions/ in the URL bar.
   
2. Click on Extensions options and disable the different extensions and visit the URL.
   
3. If you find some extension when enabled causing this issue, then just delete it.

Adjust Your Internet Security and Privacy Level

If you have configured your security and privacy level to be set at the High level, it could potentially block certain unknown connections, including SSL connections. As a consequence, you might encounter the Err_SSL_Protocol_Error error on your computer screen. To address this issue, adjusting the security and privacy settings to "Medium" or "Low" can resolve the problem and allow SSL connections to function without obstruction. By opting for a lower security level, you grant the necessary permissions for SSL connections to establish successfully, ensuring a seamless browsing experience and enabling secure communication between your browser and websites. However, it's essential to carefully consider the potential risks associated with lowering security levels and ensure you are comfortable with the implications of such changes before implementing them.

To change your privacy settings to "medium" or "low" .

1. Go to your control panel and select Internet Options.
2. Now choose the Security tab and choose the medium-high level.

Remove your system's hosts file

The Windows Hosts file serves as a powerful tool to control and manipulate hostname resolutions on a local system. Each entry in the hosts file associates an IP address with a specific hostname, effectively directing the system to resolve that hostname with the designated IP address. By modifying the hosts file, users can block access to certain websites by redirecting their hostnames to a loopback address (e.g., 127.0.0.1), effectively preventing the system from reaching those sites. Conversely, users can also use the hosts file to redirect hostnames to different IP addresses, allowing for custom mappings and local testing purposes. This manual configuration at the hosts file level offers a level of control over network traffic and can be useful for various purposes, including blocking ads, restricting access to certain sites, or setting up local development environments.

Steps to remove or modify Host file.

1. Click Windows key + R on a keyboard to open the Run window.
   
2. Type C:\\Windows\\System32\\drivers\\etc and click Enter.
   
3. In the appeared folder, right-click hosts file and choose Delete.
   
4. Confirm deletion if asked and restart the browser.

Check Your Antivirus Settings

Antivirus programs often include features that monitor webpages for potential security threats, including outdated or insecure SSL/TLS protocols. While adjusting antivirus settings might temporarily resolve the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR error, it is essential to exercise caution. Tampering with antivirus settings could inadvertently allow access to websites with bad or insecure SSL/TLS configurations, leading to potential security vulnerabilities and exposing your system to cyber threats. It is advisable to refrain from making changes to antivirus settings unless you are fully aware of the consequences and the potential risks involved. Instead, consider seeking assistance from your antivirus provider or a cybersecurity professional to address the SSL/TLS protocol issues in a secure and responsible manner. Prioritizing cybersecurity is crucial in safeguarding your system and data from potential threats and ensuring a safe browsing experience.

WARNING: Checking and altering antivirus settings as this could end up in the antivirus allowing a website's bad, insecure SSL/TLS configuration , thereby causing security issues.

Check Your Firewall

The Windows Firewall is a critical component that regulates both incoming and outgoing network traffic on your computer. If a website is listed in the blocklist of your Internet Firewall, the browser will be restricted from accessing it. To address the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR or any other connectivity issues with a particular website, it is essential to inspect the Windows Firewall settings and ensure that the website in question is not listed in the blocklist. If you find the website listed, removing it from the blocklist will allow your browser to access the site without any hindrance. However, exercise caution while modifying Firewall settings to avoid inadvertently permitting access to potentially malicious websites or compromising your system's security. It is always prudent to verify the legitimacy of any changes and only make modifications if you are confident in the website's credibility and the impact of the adjustments on your system's security.

Conclusion

Trying out the suggested solutions can be effective in resolving the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR error. Each of the proposed methods addresses different potential causes of the error, and their effectiveness may vary depending on the specific situation. By systematically attempting the various solutions, users can identify the most appropriate fix for their particular scenario. It is essential to exercise patience and diligence while testing these solutions, as the root cause of the error may not always be apparent. Additionally, it is crucial to exercise caution when making changes to settings, ensuring that any adjustments made align with security best practices and do not compromise the system's overall safety. With a thorough and systematic approach, users can increase their chances of finding the optimal solution to overcome the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR and enjoy a seamless browsing experience.