Zoom Untrusted Server Certificate issues
There is an Untrusted Server Certificates error that indicates that the certificate that is being displayed by Zoom (one of the elements that demonstrates that data is only being sent to trusted online locations) is not the certificate that is expected by the Zoom application. There are a number of reasons why this can happen.
Untrusted Server Certificate In order to maintain a high level of security, Zoom provides security alerts as a proactive measure. A notification is sent to you advising that there has been an unexpected change in how Zoom treats your data. There is a possibility that this could be an indication of a Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attack, but most of the time it can be caused by misconfigured networking gear that can be found within your home or company. The use of VPN connections can often cause a similar notification in today’s heavily work-from-home culture where many people work from home.
If you see an error message from Zoom showing the following, please follow this article:
Security Warning: Untrusted Server Certificate
There is no privacy associated with your connection. You might have to worry about hackers trying to steal your financial or personal information from Zoom. There was no way to prove that this server was Zoom. Authentication Gateway is the company that issued the certificate for it.
Note: A new alert will now be provided with additional information about an untrusted server certificate, including whether the server name on the certificate is incorrect, whether there has been a failure in the revocation check, whether the certifying authority is untrusted, and whether the certificate is invalid or not. As part of the feature, users will also have the option to view the certificates so that they can assist with troubleshooting.
How to resolve Untrusted Certificate errors on personal devices (desktop and mobile)
Resolve time misalignment
There are a number of reasons why certificates are misaligned, but the most common one is a time conflict. If you set your device’s time and date incorrectly, or if it is slightly different from what your system expects, this can cause the system to detect faults. I am sure you have encountered this problem before if you are a frequent traveler. There are many different types of Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers available today, but some machines are configured to use a local NTP server at work, which may not be accessible from home.
Changing the time and rebooting are the first steps you can take if your time is incorrect. It is possible that the network security infrastructure may be affecting you even if your time is correct.
Resolve Untrusted Certificate
A signed and trusted certificate would need to be obtained and installed online if correcting the time does not help. Their device –or their system – will not pass on the expected certificate when they apply this to your device. IT organizations in different enterprises have different IT environments, so the solution to this message will be determined by each one independently. There is also a possibility that they will just tell you to click the trust anyway button and continue connecting.
This kind of alert can be generated automatically at home with the help of many products and services. The Circle by Disney® is a great example of this type of design. You can click Trust Anyway if you know the device and you trust it, in which case you will be able to proceed uninterrupted on the desktop client when the device is known.
How to resolve Untrusted Certificate errors on shared devices (Zoom Rooms)
As a result of the Network Time Protocol (NTP) environment that Zoom Rooms uses, it is very common to see time/NTP error messages right after coming online for the first time, as the clock has yet to update or the device cannot connect to the NTP server.
Despite Zoom’s best efforts, the company does not have access to detailed information about your specific network environment. Any connection should be verified before selecting Trust Anyway, as it is always better to be safe than sorry. It is always important to be more cautious when you are in a public environment where you can access Wi-Fi that is open (coffee shop, library, etc.).