Skip to Content

Apple Forgets to Renew SSL Certificate, Breaking OS X Software Update [Fixed]

Several readers have noted a strange error message appearing when trying to perform software updates from the Mac App Store.

invalid-certificate

An Error has occurred

The certificate for this server is invalid. You might be connecting to a server that is pretending to be "swscan.apple.com" which could put you confidential information at risk.

Swscan.apple.com is one of several servers that Software Update uses to communicate with Apple. The apparent problem is that the security certificate for the server appears to have expired. The certificate was originally valid from May 22, 2012 to May 24, 2014.

expired
This is a problem that Apple will need to fix on their side. In the meanwhile, users can manually download updates from Apple's support site.

Update: This may also be the cause of NSURLErrorDomain error -1012, which appears to have started in the same time.

Update 2: Apple appears to have fixed the certificate.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Released Seven New Products Today

Wednesday March 11, 2026 7:05 am PDT by
Starting today, the seven new Apple products that were announced last week are available at Apple Stores and beginning to arrive to customers. The colorful MacBook Neo and all of the other new products are on display at most Apple Store locations around the world starting today. Apple Stores have inventory of the new products for both walk-in customers and Apple Store pickup, but...
Apple 50 Years of Thinking Different

Apple Announces 50th Anniversary Plans

Thursday March 12, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
Apple today announced that it will celebrate the company's 50th anniversary over the coming weeks, but it has yet to reveal any specific plans. Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, so the company will turn 50 on April 1, 2026. "While Apple is known for looking forward, this milestone offers a special moment to reflect on the journey that has brought the company here, to celebrate the...
iOS 27 Mock Quick

10+ New Features Coming in iOS 27

Friday March 13, 2026 2:13 pm PDT by
We're only three months away from Apple's WWDC 2026 event, which will see the company unveil iOS 27. With the fully revamped version of Siri possibly delayed until September, iOS 27 is shaping up to be the update we wanted iOS 26 to be. There will be new Apple Intelligence features, updates for the iPhone Fold, and more, with the latest rumors summarized below. Foldable iPhone Features...

Top Rated Comments

markyr17 Avatar
154 months ago
forgets?????
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rafagon Avatar
154 months ago
All it would've taken is for whoever is in charge of swscan.apple.com to have had a brief conversation with Siri.

"Siri, Remind me to renew SSL Certificate for Swscan.apple.com on May 23. Alert me two days before, and alert me a second time on the day before."

And now Tim Cook should just say to Siri:

"Siri, Remind me to fire the guy in charge of swscan.apple.com on Monday, May 26th."
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrgraff Avatar
154 months ago
Steve would have never let the Mac App Store become Snappier without the Heartbleed update render leaking, Tim.

Did I catch everything?

You forgot:

Microsoft Forgets to Renew... = Yet another example of a top-heavy corporation unable to keep even simple things in check. Thank goodness Apple hasn't forgotten its user base.

Apple Forgets to Renew... = Calm down, people; non-issue. Do you even realize how much time a big company needs to address things like this?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Yvan256 Avatar
154 months ago
Seriously?

Isn't there at least one person, at Apple, whose job is to keep things like that up-to-date?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spyguy10709 Avatar
154 months ago
Steve would have never let the Mac App Store become Snappier without the Heartbleed update render leaking, Tim.

Did I catch everything?
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
testcard Avatar
154 months ago
Apple needs to design an app where people can jot down a list of things they need to remember, with an option to add alerts when they become due. Could call it Reminders or something similar.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)