Showing RDP Server Certificate Failed Error

This section provides a tutorial example on how to trigger a RDP server certificate authentication failed error using the Remote Desktop Connection program.

When you use the "Remote Desktop Connection" program and RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) to connect to a remote Windows system, the remote will actually present a server certificate. The "Remote Desktop Connection" program can use the server certificate to authenticate the remote system using the PKI technology.

The "Remote Desktop Connection" program can also use the server certificate to encrypt data exchanged with the remote system similar to HTTPS protocol.

Here is how you can trigger an authentication error on the RDP server certificate:

1. Start "Remote Desktop Connection" program with the "mstsc" command.

2. Click "Show Options". More tabs and options will be displayed.

3. Click "Advanced" tab. And select "Warn me" below "if server authentication fails".

4. Click "General" tab. And try to login to the remote system. A security warning screen is displayed:

The identity of the remote computer cannot be verified.
Do you want to connect anyway?

The remote computer could not be authenticated due to problem
with its security certificate. It may be unsafe to process.

Certificate name:
   dbserver.company.com (or whatever the server name is)

Certificate errors:
   The following errors were encountered while validating
   the remote computer's certificate:
      The certificate is not from a trusted certifying authority.
RDP Server Certificate Failed Error
RDP Server Certificate Failed Error

In most cases, the remote computer is using a self-signed certificate. It will not be trusted by the client computer, unless that self-signed certificate was installed in the client computer as a trusted certificate.

See the next tutorial on how to see details of the RDP server certificate.

Table of Contents

 About This Book

 Introduction of PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)

 Introduction of HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

 Using HTTPS with Google Chrome

 Using HTTPS with Mozilla Firefox

 HTTPS with Microsoft Edge

 Using HTTPS with Apple Safari

 HTTPS with IE (Internet Explorer)

 Android and Server Certificate

 iPhone and Server Certificate

 Windows Certificate Stores and Console

RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) and Server Certificate

 Running "Remote Desktop Connection" Using RDP

Showing RDP Server Certificate Failed Error

 Viewing and Installing RDP Server Certificate

 RDP Server Certificate Location

 macOS Certificate Stores and Keychain Access

 Perl Scripts Communicating with HTTPS Servers

 PHP Scripts Communicating with HTTPS Servers

 Java Programs Communicating with HTTPS Servers

 .NET Programs Communicating with HTTPS Servers

 CAcert.org - Root CA Offering Free Certificates

 PKI CA Administration - Issuing Certificates

 Comodo Free Personal Certificate

 Digital Signature - Microsoft Word

 Digital Signature - OpenOffice.org 3

 S/MIME and Email Security

 PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) Terminology

 Archived Tutorials

 References

 Full Version in PDF/EPUB