​Addressing Security Certificate Issues

Secure websites can be identified by the protocol presented in front of the website address:

• HTTP = Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (Insecure)
• HTTPS = Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure

What makes HTTPS websites secure is the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) that’s used to establish encrypted communications between your computer and the web server you are accessing. This is accomplished through digitally signed certificates that get presented to your Internet browser from a web server. These certificates get authenticated by a third party known as a Certification Authority (CA). However, in order for this to occur, your Internet browser must know to communicate with the CA that's responsible for authenticating a particular website. 

If you are presented with any security warnings suggesting that DAU resources are “untrusted” or “insecure,” or you encounter connectivity-related errors (for example: "Page can't be displayed"), you may not have the appropriate CA certificates installed on your computer. The guidance that follows will help in addressing such incidents.

Installing Required PKI Certificates

1. Please check your Internet browser's address bar to confirm which website domain name (or sub-domain) is presenting you with a certificate warning/error message:
   
   
   
2. Select the site you are having trouble with for appropraite guidance:
   

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   •   www.dau.edu  
   
   
   
   •   id.dau.edu 
   
   
   
   •   dau.csod.com 
   
   
   •   myclass.dau.edu  
   
   
   
   •   atrrs.army.mil