The answer is an incorrect system date, which causes SSL certificate validation to fail. SSL certificates are time-sensitive by design, relying on a validity period that the browser checks against the system clock; if the date is set to 2019, the certificate appears expired or not yet valid, triggering the “not trusted” warning. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of certificate trust chains and common misconfigurations—a frequent trap is assuming the certificate itself is corrupt or needs replacement, when simply synchronizing the system clock with a time server resolves the issue. Remember that browsers use the local system date to verify the certificate’s “not before” and “not after” fields, so a wildly incorrect date breaks the trust model. Memory tip: “Time is trust”—if the clock is off, the certificate is toast.
220-1102 Browser and Application Security Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of browser and application security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user's browser is displaying a warning that the website's certificate is not trusted, even though the URL is correct. The technician checks the date and time on the computer and finds it is set to 2019. What is the most likely cause of the certificate warning?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The system date is incorrect, causing certificate validation to fail.
SSL certificates are time-sensitive; if the system date is far in the past or future, the browser cannot verify the certificate's validity. Synchronizing the system clock with a time server resolves this issue without needing to install a new certificate.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The website's SSL certificate has been revoked.
Why it's wrong here
A revoked certificate would show a different warning, and the date issue is a more direct cause given the incorrect system time.
✗
The browser's certificate store is corrupted.
Why it's wrong here
A corrupted store could cause warnings, but the incorrect system date is a simpler and more likely explanation.
✓
The system date is incorrect, causing certificate validation to fail.
Why this is correct
SSL certificates rely on accurate date/time; a mismatch causes the browser to reject the certificate as invalid.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The user is connected to a malicious proxy.
Why it's wrong here
A malicious proxy could cause certificate errors, but the date discrepancy is a known and common cause.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
A revoked certificate would show a different warning, and the date issue is a more direct cause given the incorrect system time.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Browser and Application Security — This question tests Browser and Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The system date is incorrect, causing certificate validation to fail. — SSL certificates are time-sensitive; if the system date is far in the past or future, the browser cannot verify the certificate's validity. Synchronizing the system clock with a time server resolves this issue without needing to install a new certificate.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A customer reports that their browser shows a 'Your connection is not private' warning when visiting their online banking site, but other websites work fine. What is the most likely cause?
medium
A.The user's system date and time are incorrect.
✓ B.The bank's SSL certificate has expired or is misconfigured.
C.The user's browser is infected with a man-in-the-middle proxy.
D.The user's anti-virus is blocking the connection.
Why B: This warning typically indicates a certificate issue, such as an expired or invalid SSL certificate on the banking site itself. It is not a problem with the user's browser or computer.
Last reviewed: Jun 19, 2026
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