Microsoft security alert - problem with security certificate

['89cab]

I researched kitchen stools on line and was prepared to make my purchase from the website with the best price ($600 vs the next best - $685 including tax and shipping). When I tried to go from my shopping cart to complete purchase info I received a Microsoft Security Alert that there is a “Problem with the Security Certificate” of this site. (incidently, I tried this on both Vista and XP computers.)

I called the 800 number of the site and talked with a salesperson who was polite and articulate but offered no explanation of the problem, and no, she wasn't aware of others with same situation. She suggested I try the Google checkout option on their site or place my order with her (no thanks).

I revisited the site and tried the Google checkout option which was available, but I didn’t see the little secure icon (the lock) on my task bar. The Google checkout address starts with "https" Does that mean anything? Obviously, I didn't close the deal.

I realize I’m getting too comfortable with online purchasing. I’m not willing to give these guys my credit card info without assurances that they are legit. How can I find out? If they aren’t legit, what would you do?

[ginot912]

the "htpps" means a secured site.

others should confirm

Gino

[stomachmonkey]

https indicates a secure encrypted connection.

there are a variety of reasons that sites will throw a certificate error.

it can be as simple as the certificate being set up as "somesite.com" but the url it takes you to is "www.somesite.com" where the "www" is the mismatch.

the cert could also be expired.

another one you see a lot is "contains insecure....."

generally when someone is too lazy to host images in the https directory and links to them from the http directory or if they throw their insecure google analytics cookie on the secure page because they want to track cart conversions.

[Vipergrün]

The cert is probably expired, or the hostname of the web server has changed, or there are issues with name resolution (DNS)....