How to fix ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT error?

Some users are complaining about the ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT error when trying to access some web addresses. Most of them report that this error only occurs when trying to connect to account.google.com – the address that is responsible for handling sign-in for most Google services. But this issue is not exclusive to Google Chrome, as most of the users who find the issue claim that the same web addresses are also not available in other web browsers.

What is the reason for the ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT error?

ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT

We analyzed this specific issue by reviewing various reports and solutions that users have taken in an effort to resolve the issue. Based on this, we were able to collect several common scenarios that can lead to this issue:

  • Third party antivirus software inspects HTTPS traffic. Most of the antivirus programs are configured for default, some of them exhibit overprotection. Users affected by this issue report that they were able to fix it after disabling HTTPS inspection (SSL scan) in third party AV settings.
  • The Chrome version is heavily outdated. This particular issue occurs on computers with older version of Chrome. However, this is known to only happen with Chrome version 40 and older.
  • The MTU value of the router is incompatible with the network configuration. There is also evidence that the error occurs if the router’s MTU is inconsistent with the current network configuration.

If you are currently trying to fix this specific issue, then our article will provide you with proven troubleshooting steps. There are several methods below that other users have used in a similar situation to solve this problem.

For good results, follow the methods below until you find a solution to your problem that is effective in your specific scenario.

Method 1… Disable HTTPS inspection (if applicable) in third party antivirus settings

According to various user reports, the problem can occur if you have third-party antivirus software configured to inspect HTTPS traffic in order to protect against rogue attacks on secure channels. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but many of the third party AV packages, including ESET, AVAST, BitDefender, and McAfee, are reported to be contributing to the ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT error.

Most of the users affected by this issue managed to resolve the error that was occurring by disabling the HTTPS inspection feature in their AV settings. You can fix this problem by disallowing a third-party antivirus to perform any HTTPS checks (SSL scan). The steps below depend on which AV you are using. In BitDefender, you can disable this feature by going to Settings> General> Advanced and unchecking the Scan SSL checkbox.

If you cannot find these settings (you may not have a feature to disable HTTPS inspection), then the only way to ensure that the error is not caused by your AV is to remove it completely.

Note: Users experiencing this issue report that the ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT error does not occur when Windows Defender is in active security settings.

If this method is not suitable for your specific situation or did not help solve the problem, then move on to the next method.

Method 2: updating the browser to the latest version

Some of the users report that fixing this problem is simple: just update Chrome (or the other browser where the problem occurs) to the latest version. But keep in mind that this solution can only help those who have encountered this error in a very early browser. For example, the bug is often noticed on Chrome 20-40.

Here’s a quick guide to fixing the ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT error in Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome and click the action button in the upper right corner. Then click Help> About Google Chrome.
  2. Note. Remember, Google Chrome is set to receive updates by default. Manual user intervention or some extensions may change this setting.
  3. Wait for the scan to complete, then click Update Chrome and install the new version.
  4. Restart your browser and see if your problem has been resolved.

In almost the same way, you can update browsers from other developers. In general, you shouldn’t have any problems here. If the discussed error still bothers you, then go to the next method.

Method 3: changing the MTU of the router to 1400

Many users who encountered the ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT error solved the problem by changing the router MTU value to 1400.

The steps for changing the MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) will differ depending on the manufacturer of your router. However, several general steps have been identified that will point you in the right direction for solving the problem:

  1. Launch your web browser and enter the login address for your router. Most routers use the default IP address 192.168.0.1. or 192.168.1.1.
  2. Check your router settings and network or WAN settings that will allow you to change the MTU size. On most routers, this item can be found in the Advanced menu in the WAN Setup section.
  3. Set the MTU size to 1400 and click Save (or Apply) to save the selected changes.
  4. Restart your router and see if the problem was resolved by trying to access the same address that was previously causing the ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT error.
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