Microsoft Defender Misidentifies DigiCert Certificates As Malware, Triggering Global Disruptions

A significant technical malfunction in Microsoft Defender has triggered widespread alarm across the global cybersecurity community, after the platform mistakenly identified legitimate digital certificates issued by DigiCert as malicious software. The error, which surfaced in late April, led to false-positive detections labeled Trojan:Win32/Cerdigent.A!dha and, in some cases, the automatic removal of critical certificates from Windows systems.

The issue first emerged following a routine security intelligence update rolled out on April 30. Shortly afterward, system administrators and IT professionals across multiple regions began reporting anomalous alerts. These warnings indicated that trusted DigiCert root certificates—essential components of secure internet communication—were being flagged as…