Affected Roles: All users
Related DW Spectrum VMS Apps: DW Spectrum Client, DW Spectrum Server
Difficulty: Low

The Issue - a Security Certificate Error:

As of March 2019 some users encounter issues when installing or running DW Spectrum VMS in Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 as their operating system.

The authority that issued our security certificate closed their business and although the server that confirms the validity of the certificate is still online some users are facing issues running DW Spectrum.

The authority claims the servers will be online until Jan 1st 2020.

Once the server is down, certificate will not be recognized by Windows as a valid certificate. Users will receive a warning that Windows has blocked the application, but also might not get any warning at all and the application just doesn’t open. 

DW has obtained new certificates and will be issuing a patch and a hotfix. We rebuilt and resigned the released versions with this certificate as well.

To avoid this issue in the future we strongly recommend Windows 10/Server 2016 users planning to update to or install the following builds:

• For new installations use the most recent version
• If you are using 3.2 release (3.2.0.20839) or any previous version, update to build 3.2.0.28738 or to the latest release available
• If you are using any 3.2 patch, update to build 3.2.0.28749 or higher.

How to fix this issue in the short-term - Tweak Windows Security Settings

Here is the article that describes the steps to set up local security policy:

https://www.top-password.com/blog/windows-10-fix-this-app-has-been-blocked-for-your-protection/

Here are the steps how to tweak Windows Defender Security Center:

1. Click on the magnifying glass at the bottom left, next to the Windows logo and type in the search bar; Windows Defender Security Center and click on it.
2. Select App & browser control
3. Change under Check apps and files the tick box from Block to Warn.
4. When the following question is asked; Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device, click Yes.

Alternative, use the Windows Services application (if the Server cannot be controlled via the DW Spectrum Tray Tool):

1. Click on the magnifying glass at the bottom left, next to the Windows logo and type in the search bar; Services and click on it.
2. Locate DW Spectrum Media Server in the services list
3. Right-click and open Properties.
4. Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic. Use Start and Stop buttons.

If you want to use your own certificate, you can do this as well. The method to achieve this is described in the article which can be found via the following LINK.