If you’ve ever been blocked by a NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID error while trying to access a website, you know how frustrating it can be. This SSL/TLS certificate validation error is one of the most common security warnings you’ll encounter, and it affects both developers running local environments and users trying to access production sites. In this guide, we’ll break down what causes this error, why it matters for security, and how to fix it whether you’re a visitor hitting the error or a website owner whose users are reporting it.