Following a recent Windows 11 update, users may encounter a security warning when opening an RDP (.rdp) file to connect to their office computer remotely. This article explains why the warning appears and how to resolve it for your specific RDP file.
Warning Type:
Unknown Publisher: The RDP file has no digital signature
Identity Cannot Be Verified: Your office PC’s certificate is not trusted by your home machine
UPDATE
IT has introduced Digital Certification Services (DCS | AEP) to fortify and secure remote connectivity across the organization.
DCS issues certificates and digitally signs RDP connection profiles to verify that your remote desktop connections are authentic and unaltered. When connecting to your remote host, a valid signed profile means Windows can confirm the connection is legitimate — reducing security warnings and giving you confidence that you’re connecting to the right place.
If you’re currently seeing an “Unknown Publisher” warning when launching your remote desktop connection, your RDP file has not yet been signed. Here’s how to get that resolved:
- Step 1: Email [email protected] and attach the RDP file you are currently using to connect.
- Step 2: IT will reach out to install the digital certificate on your computer and provide you with a newly signed RDP profile.
Once complete, the “Unknown Publisher” warning will no longer appear and your connection will be verified as trusted.