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What Happened to RustDesk Certificate in December 2025 and Can You Still Use It Safely?
RustDesk remote desktop software stopped functioning properly on December 8, 2025, following an unexpected certificate revocation by Sectigo, the issuing Certificate Authority. This disruption affects both free and commercial versions of the software across multiple operating systems.
Understanding the Technical Issue
The problem stems from Sectigo’s revocation of RustDesk’s Extended Validation (EV) code signing certificate. This revocation appears to result from misidentified security threats reported through VirusTotal—a common challenge in software verification systems. When a code signing certificate gets revoked, operating systems treat the software as untrusted, triggering security warnings and blocking execution.
Windows users encounter SmartScreen notifications stating administrators have blocked the application. Similar warnings appear on other platforms, preventing millions of users from accessing this open-source remote maintenance tool.
Impact on Users and Ecosystem
This certificate issue creates significant operational challenges. The revocation affects the entire RustDesk infrastructure, disrupting workflows for individuals and organizations relying on this software for remote support and system maintenance. The situation highlights vulnerabilities in the certificate authority ecosystem, where automated threat detection can inadvertently compromise legitimate software distribution.
Available Solutions
RustDesk Pro users should generate a new custom client signed with DigiCert’s updated EV certificate. This approach provides a clean solution that restores full functionality while maintaining security compliance.
For other users, implementing security software exceptions offers a temporary workaround. Configure your antivirus and Windows SmartScreen to whitelist RustDesk executables. This method bypasses the certificate validation warnings, though it requires manual configuration on each system.
The development team continues working with certificate authorities to resolve the underlying verification issues. Monitor RustDesk’s official GitHub repository for updates on permanent fixes and new certificate deployments.