Whats insecure mean


Insecure Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

in·​se·​cure ˌin-si-ˈkyu̇r 

1

a

: deficient in assurance : beset by fear and anxiety

always felt insecure in a group of strangers

b

: not highly stable or well-adjusted

an insecure marriage

2

: not confident or sure : uncertain

feeling somewhat insecure of his reception

3

: not adequately guarded or sustained : unsafe

an insecure investment

4

: not firmly fastened or fixed : shaky

the hinge is loose and insecure

5

: unable to reliably afford or access what is needed to meet one's basic needs

families that are housing insecure [=that are at risk of losing their housing]

see also food insecure

insecurely adverb

insecureness noun

Synonyms

  • lax
  • loose
  • loosened
  • relaxed
  • slack
  • slackened
  • unsecured

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Example Sentences

I feel shy and insecure around strangers. One of the building's rear doors was insecure. The country's borders remain insecure.

Recent Examples on the Web But Tate’s style of posting is so strangely sincere, full of wildly insecure boasts and immature taunting, the vast majority of Twitter users read Tate’s response as an earnest expression of offense. —Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022 What keeps an insecure Evanston salt spreader awake at night? —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 16 Nov. 2022 An insecure living situation could just be another indicator of financial insecurity, which itself has negative health impacts. —Kasra Zarei, WIRED, 7 Oct. 2022 Earlier this year, as a House representative, Bass helped secure millions to fund programs that offer long-term shelter for unhoused Angelenos, support job training and career development programs for the unhoused and those with insecure housing. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2022 Both scenarios could describe someone with an insecure attachment style. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 8 Dec. 2022 But the family remains at the whims of Puerto Rico’s insecure power grid. —Wilma Maldonado, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2022 Friends would wonder how Ms. Abloh managed not to be insecure about her husband being endlessly photographed with Bella Hadid. —Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2022 As part of her research, De Armas learned that Monroe took personal speech classes and felt rather insecure about how her voice influenced perceptions of her and her work. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insecure. ' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin insecurus, from Latin in- + securus secure

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of insecure was in 1646

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near

insecure

insect wax

insecure

insecurity

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

Style

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“Insecure.Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insecure. Accessed 7 Jan. 2023.

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Kids Definition

insecure

adjective

in·​se·​cure ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r 

1

: not confident or sure : uncertain

felt insecure about their response

2

: not well protected : not safe

insecure property

3

: not firmly fastened : loose

an insecure hinge

4

: lacking self-assurance

insecure people

insecurely adverb

insecurity

-ˈkyu̇r-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

insecure

adjective

in·​se·​cure ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r 

: characterized by or causing emotional insecurity

an insecure childhood

Legal Definition

insecure

adjective

in·​se·​cure

: having a good faith belief that the prospect of receiving payment or performance from a party with whom one has contracted is impaired

insecurity noun

More from Merriam-Webster on

insecure

Nglish: Translation of insecure for Spanish Speakers

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Insecure Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

  • Top Definitions
  • Synonyms
  • Quiz
  • Related Content
  • More About Insecure
  • Examples
  • British

This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.

[ in-si-kyoor ]

/ ˌɪn sɪˈkyʊər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: insecure / insecureness on Thesaurus.com

This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.


adjective

subject to fears, doubts, etc.; not self-confident or assured: an insecure person.

not confident or certain; uneasy; anxious: He was insecure about the examination.

not secure; exposed or liable to risk, loss, or danger: an insecure stock portfolio.

not firmly or reliably placed or fastened: an insecure ladder.

OTHER WORDS FOR insecure

3 risky.

See synonyms for insecure on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of insecure

From the Medieval Latin word insēcūrus, dating back to 1640–50. See in-3, secure

synonym study for insecure

3. See uncertain.

OTHER WORDS FROM insecure

in·se·cure·ly, adverbin·se·cure·ness, noun

Words nearby insecure

insectivore, insectivorous, insectivorous bat, insectology, insect wax, insecure, insecurity, inselberg, inseminate, insemination , inseminator

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT INSECURE

What does

insecure mean?

Insecure means subject to fears and doubt, as in Sally was such an insecure person that she didn’t believe she did anything well, even when she got A’s on her tests.

Insecure can also mean anxious or uneasy, as in Tom was insecure about his chances for a promotion, worrying about it so much that he couldn’t sleep at night.

Insecure can mean not secure, that is, exposed to danger or risk. A safe with a broken lock would be an insecure safe. Anyone could open the safe and take what was inside.

Lastly, insecure can refer to something that is not firmly placed or fastened, as with a fire escape that is not completely fastened to a building.

Example: The bankrobbers easily broke into the insecure vault and escaped with all of the money.

Where does

insecure come from?

The first records of the word insecure come from around 1640. It comes from the Medieval Latin word insēcūrus, which combines the negative prefix in- and the word secure, meaning “safe.”

When we’re talking about objects, we use insecure to mean the object lacks security (like your bank account) or is unstable (as in a ladder). Insecure, like the word uncertain, is used to describe something as risky or unpredictable. The word insecure often implies that the thing is likely to fail or come to harm.

When we use the word insecure to describe people, we often mean people who lack self-confidence or who need validation. Interestingly, some mental health experts argue that social media has made many more people feel insecure because of the amount of criticism they receive online or because they are constantly comparing themselves to others.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to insecure?

  • insecurely (adverb)
  • insecureness (noun)
  • insecurity (noun)

What are some synonyms for insecure?

  • anxious
  • apprehensive
  • unsure
  • unstable
  • wobbly

What are some words that share a root or word element with insecure

  • secure

What are some words that often get used in discussing insecure?

  • anxiety
  • doubt
  • security
  • data
  • person

How is

insecure used in real life?

Insecure is a common word. Social media often makes people feel extremely insecure.

i can’t believe girls stay with boyfriends who make them feel insecure, he’s supposed to be your #1 fan or he’s weird

— Michelle Caroline (@michcarolinelo) October 30, 2020

An insecure person always looks for a fight. When there’s no one left to fight, they fight themselves.

— Jay Jordan (@misterjayjordan) October 26, 2020

Ahhh yes, another night of me feeling insecure and feeling like I am not good enough

— marty mcfly williams (@talisaxrose) October 28, 2020

Try using

insecure!

Which of the following words would NOT be a synonym of insecure?

A. apprehensive
B. unsure
C. confident
D. anxious

Words related to insecure

afraid, anxious, apprehensive, hesitant, shaky, touchy, troubled, unsure, uptight, frail, immature, unreliable, unstable, vulnerable, wobbly, unsafe, choked, diffident, jumpy, on thin ice

How to use insecure in a sentence

  • The spread of Covid-19 among housing-insecure and homeless populations didn’t stay there — it affected entire communities through increased transmission rates and strained hospital resources.

    Covid-19 caused a recession. So why did the housing market boom?|Jerusalem Demsas|February 5, 2021|Vox

  • The proceeds will support grants for nonprofits in the community, programming at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and meals for food-insecure residents.

    Meet the Nats fan who won team’s World Series ring raffle — and received his prize on the field|Scott Allen|January 19, 2021|Washington Post

  • Raising awareness about Meals on Wheels and lonely and food insecure seniors is, because “the whole world loves it when you’re in the news.

    Outkast’s André 3000 shines a light on food insecurity for the elderly with a quick lil’ apple pie|Aaron Hutcherson|December 18, 2020|Washington Post

  • You can’t just look at a person and know whether or not they’re food insecure.

    ‘What we’ve seen since covid has been a precipitous increase in need,’ says Feeding America CEO|KK Ottesen|November 10, 2020|Washington Post

  • Broad Street Ministry, a church in the heart of the city known for its social service work, serves as the mailing address for about 3,000 people who are homeless or housing insecure.

    Pennsylvania’s New Vote-by-Mail Law Expands Access for Everyone Except the Poor|by Jonathan Lai, Samantha Melamed and Michaelle Bond, The Philadelphia Inquirer|October 22, 2020|ProPublica

  • “The bigger issue is that vendors are not held accountable for writing insecure code,” says researcher Rios.

    How Your Pacemaker Will Get Hacked|Kaiser Health News|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

  • With its eastern borders under siege from Russia, Ukrainians feel cornered and insecure.

    The Great Wall of Ukraine|Vijai Maheshwari|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

  • I was horribly insecure, horribly shy, always feeling ugly and weak.

    Jim Norton And His Many Vices|Lloyd Grove|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

  • If they do, the jobs are low-level, part-time, temporary, insecure, and require supplementing with freelancing.

    How to Get Laid in Brooklyn a la Adelle Waldman’s Nifty Novel of Manners|Tom LeClair|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

  • “We live in a society where there are girls who are in love with theirself and flaunt it but the majority are insecure,” says one.

    Cara Delevingne Posts Protest Picture Of Her Boob (With Taped-Out Nipple)|Tom Sykes|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

  • So the ladder, a rather rotten and insecure one, was obtained, and after some difficulty placed against the wall.

    The Doctor of Pimlico|William Le Queux

  • Such conjectures would always be insecure, and often erroneous.

    A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill

  • He swung up, breaking off the more insecure boughs, and was of the belief that we could get across in that way.

    The Way of a Man|Emerson Hough

  • This fault must be corrected immediately, as it renders his gait not only uncomfortable to the rider, but very insecure.

    Horsemanship for Women|Theodore Hoe Mead

  • There is no such inefficiency in the government as makes the lives of Turkish subjects always insecure and travel dangerous.

    Silver Chimes in Syria|W. S. Nelson

British Dictionary definitions for insecure

insecure

/ (ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊə) /


adjective

anxious or afraid; not confident or certain

not adequately protectedan insecure fortress

unstable or shaky

Derived forms of insecure

insecurely, adverbinsecureness, nouninsecurity, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Your connection is not secure - what is this error and how to fix it

When you visit sites on the Internet, there is always a chance of encountering fraud, so it is important to check the resources for security. As a rule, the main indicator of security is the presence of a padlock symbol in the address bar of the browser. If it is present, then everything is in order and the website is safe. But it happens that the error “Your connection is not secure” appears in response, which indicates that this site cannot provide a secure connection and attackers can access your device. nine0003

Most often, the connection is not secure if there is an error in the operation of the SSL certificate. In the article we will tell you how to solve this problem and what else can be.

What does the "Your connection is not secure" error mean

Before a site opens on your computer, the browser checks digital certificates to ensure it meets privacy and security standards for later use. The error "Your connection is not secure" will appear at the very moment when the browser detects a problem with the certificate - thereby it will warn you that it is impossible to establish a secure connection and will try to restrict access to the site. nine0003

When your connection is not secure, it is most often due to a bug in the SSL certificate, which is a technology that creates a secure connection between the user's browser and the web server by encrypting data. To protect data transmitted over the network when making payments, specifying personal information, a special data transfer protocol https is used. Information on this protocol is transmitted in an encoded form. In the browser, the protocol is visible in the address bar:

An SSL certificate must be installed on the server for the https protocol to work.

How the "Your connection is not secure" error looks in different browsers

The "Your connection is not secure" error can look different: some browsers use text messages, others may show warnings with codes. Let's show what the error looks like in the most popular browsers.

Google Chrome

If you receive an error in Google Chrome, you will be taken to the "Privacy Error" page with a padlock or a big red exclamation mark and the message "Your connection is not secure". The browser will warn you that it is not possible to securely connect to this page, your data may be stolen, give you the option to return to the previous page, go to additional settings or stay on the site. Also the page will have an error code. This is what the most common codes look like:

NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID
NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID
NTE::ERR_CERTIFICATE_TRANSPARENCY_REQUIRED
NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID
NET::ERR_CERT_WEAK_SIGNATURE_ALGORITHM
ERR_CERT_SYMANTEC_LEGACY
SSL certificate error
ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH

Mozilla Firefox

In Mozilla Firefox, the error name is usually "Your connection is not secure". The browser notes that the owner of the site configured it incorrectly, and you can return to the previous page or go to additional settings. Error codes most often look like this:

SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE
SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_ISSUER_CERTIFICATE
SEC_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ISSUER
SEC_ERROR_OCSP_INVALID_SIGNING_CERT
MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_MITM_DETECTED
MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_ADDITIONAL_POLICY_CONSTRAINT_FAILED
SSL_ERROR_BAD_CERT_DOMAIN
ERROR_SELF_SIGNED_CERT

Safari

danger. nine0003

Microsoft Edge

When using Microsoft Edge, you'll see a message similar to the one displayed in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox: a big exclamation point and "Your connection is not secure" message. The most common error codes in Microsoft Edge are:

NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID
DLG_FLAGS_INVALID_CA
DLG_FLAGS_SEC_CERT_CN_INVALID
Error Code: 0

How to fix "Your connection is not secure" error

The most common cause of the error is the lack of an SSL certificate from the site owner. Perhaps he forgot to renew it or there was no certificate initially - the main thing is that the site visitor cannot influence this in any way. But there are other reasons that may be relevant for both the owner and the user, let's consider them.

The connection to the site is not secure: how to fix the error for the owner in different browsers

There are usually several common errors on the owner's side. Let's break it down and tell you how to fix it. nine0003

  • SSL certificate missing or expired

An SSL certificate, like a domain, is purchased for 1 year, after which it must be renewed. Sometimes site owners forget to do this, which leads to an error. In RU-CENTER, auto-renewal is set by default for all services so that such situations do not occur. If, nevertheless, the site does not work for this reason, we recommend that you wait until the site owner renews the SSL certificate.

  • Free (self-signed) certificate installed

Self-signed (self-issued, self-signed, self-signed) certificate - one that the site owner created himself for his domain or IP address. Many people think that this is a good option because it is free, affordable and fast. But, as a rule, they do not have reliable protection - browsers do not trust such certificates, because they are certified not by special centers, but by a person or legal entity unknown to them. Self-signed certificates are good for testing, otherwise your users are likely to encounter an error. nine0003

  • HTTPS connection not configured

After purchasing and installing an SSL certificate, you must configure redirection of all requests from HTTP to HTTPS. You can do this in your CMS settings and using directives in the .htaccess file. To set up redirection on RU-CENTER hosting, follow the instructions.

The connection is not secure: how to fix the error for the user in different browsers

There are several ways to get around the error for the user, but before doing this, we recommend that you make sure that the problem is really on your side: check on another device if the site opens. If so, then the problem is with the device on which the site does not open, and you can use one of the methods below. nine0003

  • Use incognito mode

This option will help you check if the site you want to visit is really insecure. If this is the case, then the site will still not work in incognito mode - this means that the problem is not in your device.

  • Refresh page

The most obvious way, but sometimes a reboot fixes connection failures.

  • Update your browser

An easy way to eliminate errors related to outdated browser version.

  • Check date and time

The date and time set on your device must match the browser. If they do not match, the SSL connection may be broken.

  • Clear cache and cookies

The devices you use to visit websites store cookies - they take up a lot of space and your computer may run slower. We recommend that you delete cookies and clear the cache to prevent connection delays - this can be done in your browser settings. nine0003

  • Disable unnecessary extensions

Check your browser extensions and try to remove them - sometimes they can interfere with your browser.

  • Check your Wi-Fi connection

Sometimes public Wi-Fi networks are poorly configured and do not work over HTTPS. Try connecting to another network you trust, or use a VPN to secure.

  • Disable antivirus

It happens that security programs block suspicious sites. Try turning them off and visiting the site again. We recommend using this method only if you are completely sure of the security of the page of interest.

Conclusion

Most often, such errors occur on the side of the site owner, so we recommend that you monitor the presence of an SSL certificate and its timely renewal as responsibly as possible. If you are a user of a site and you see that it does not have an SSL certificate, try not to go to such a site, as most likely there is a threat. nine0003

How to fix the error "Your connection is not secure"

When you go to the site or server control panel, you can see messages such as:

  • your connection is not secure,
  • this connection is not trusted,
  • , the connection is not secure
  • The connection to the site is not secure.

In this article, we will tell you how a secure connection is created, what causes errors in such a connection, and how to fix the problem. nine0003

What is a secure connection

When the Internet appeared, there were no problems with scammers. It was important for developers to establish the process of data transfer itself. One of the important developments for the Internet was the data transfer protocol - HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol). With its help, the browser receives information from the server and shows the content to the user.

Over time, the problem of personal data leakage became very acute, and HTTPS replaced HTTP. HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure ) - secure Internet data transfer protocol. This is the same HTTP protocol, but protected by an SSL certificate, which is issued by a certification authority after verifying the site and its owner. The resource owner must purchase SSL and establish an HTTPS connection so that users can access their site securely. Read more about how the protocol works in the article What is the HTTPS protocol and how it works.

Whereas previously a secure connection was optional, now browsers notify users of insecure sites. They can do this in the URL bar or show a message like "Your connection is not secure" in full screen. nine0003

"Your connection is not secure" message: how to fix it

The most obvious reason for the lack of HTTPS connection is the site owner does not have an SSL certificate . The user himself cannot influence this. He only has to decide whether he is ready to risk his data when connecting to a web resource. However, among responsible resources, such situations are becoming less and less.

In addition to this reason, there are several more, both on the user side and on the owner side. nine0003

The connection is not secure in Google Chrome and other browsers: how to fix the error for the owner

The most common causes of problems on the owner side are: You can buy an SSL certificate or issue it yourself. A self-signed free certificate provides the same protection of transmitted data as a certified paid certificate. However, the browser does not trust self-issued SSLs as they are not verified by a third party. Certified paid certificates, in addition to protecting data transfer, guarantee that information about the domain and its owner has been verified by an independent source. If the domain owner is a legal entity, the certificate guarantees that such a company really exists and its activities are legal. Therefore, if you are using self-signed SSL, users will often see this warning on your site. nine0003

  • SSL certificate has expired. The certificate is purchased for 1 year. If you go to a familiar site and see an error, just wait for the owner to renew SSL. Then the secure connection will be restored. If you are the owner of the resource and purchased a certificate from REG.RU, set the auto-renewal function in your Personal Account. So you won't forget to renew the service, and your visitors' data will be securely protected.

  • Site not configured for HTTPS . In addition to buying and installing a certificate, you need to set up site redirection to HTTPS. If the website owner has not done this, the browser will throw an error.

  • The connection to the site is not fully secured . Even if the owner has set up SSL and redirected the resource to HTTPS, the site may contain links to internal pages and files (CSS styles, images, videos, etc.) that work over HTTP. In such a situation, search engines will consider the resource unsafe and notifications about this will appear in the browser. To fix the error, you need to find all HTTP links and change them to HTTPS. If you're working with WordPress, you can use plugins like Easy HTTPS Redirection and Really Simple SSL. Read more about how to use these plugins in the article. nine0003

  • If you are a user, there is no way to fix this situation. Wait for the owner to resolve the issue, or access the site via HTTP if you trust the resource.

    The connection is not secure in Google Chrome and other browsers: how to disable the user error Open the page on another PC or smartphone. If the site works on another device, the problem is with the device. You can try one of the solutions below. nine0003

    • The device has an incorrect date and time . To establish a connection between the browser and the site, it is important that the date and time on both devices match. If they do not match, an SSL connection error may occur. It is not necessary that everything be verified to the second. It is enough that the day and hour coincide. Many browsers have already learned to detect the problem of incorrect time, so you can see the message "Clock is behind" or "Clock is too fast".

    • Cache and cookies interfere . If, even after some time, the web resource has not opened, try clearing temporary data. Firstly, they could have saved the old version of the site with an error. In this case, the site can already work via HTTPS, but the cache will not allow you to switch to the updated version of the web resource. Secondly, full cache memory and cookies affect the browser and can cause errors.

    • Extensions interfere. If you have recently installed new browser extensions, try disabling or uninstalling them. Sometimes they can interfere with his work. nine0003

    • Antivirus and firewall are interfering with the connection . It happens that an antivirus or firewall blocks suspicious sites. If you are sure that the page is safe, you can try disabling protection for a while and try to go to the site again. However, protection programs are rarely wrong.

    • Update your browser . Old versions lose their functionality over time. If you have an old browser, please update it.

    • Check the hosts file . Fraudsters can get into the hosts file on your device and change the IP addresses of websites. Thus, you can get to a duplicate site that the attackers made. A browser or antivirus may suspect spoofing and report fraudulent activity. Open the file and check its settings. If there are extraneous entries, delete them. Read about what hosts is and how to use it in our instructions for different operating systems:

      • Windows 10,
      • Windows 7,
      • macOS,
      • Linux,
      • Android.
    • Try another Wi-Fi . Errors may appear when using public Wi-Fi. Some public Wi-Fis are poorly configured and do not work over HTTPS. Try connecting to a different network or use a VPN.

    What to do if an insecure message is observed when going to the control panel

    If you see such a message when trying to enter the server control panel, ignore it and go through an insecure connection. Your browser will remember the rule and will not display warnings next time. nine0003

    How to connect via an insecure connection

    Below we will give instructions on how to connect via HTTP to a site when a “connection is not secure” error occurs in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari browsers.

    Google Chrome

    Mozilla Firefox

    Safari

    1. 1.

      Press Additional :

      The connection is not secure in Google: how to remove access block

    2. nine0318 2.

      Click on link Go to website 123.123.123.123 (not secure) :

    1. 1.

      Press Optional :

    2. 2.

      Press Accept risk and continue :

    1. 1.

      Press Read more :

    2. nine0318 2.

      Click on the link visit this website :

    Done, you entered the page using the HTTP protocol.


    Learn more