Knowledge Base

DOC: Correction for VB Setup Wizard Code Signing Info

Article ID: 174159

Article Last Modified on 2/16/2005

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q174159

SUMMARY

The Visual Basic 5.0 Setup Wizard Help contains some incorrect information regarding code signing with Authenticode. This article contains the correct information.

MORE INFORMATION

The Visual Basic 5.0 Setup Wizard Help, under "Setup Wizard -- Internet Package," states:

"Although Visual Basic, version 5.0, does not include any tools to digitally sign components, the Setup Wizard-generated .cab files reserve space for you to add a digital signature at a later time. To get your files digitally signed you can:


  1. Send them to a service provider such as VeriSign, who keeps the private key. The service provider signs the files and returns them to you.
  2. Purchase special hardware and/or software which stores your private key locally. When you are ready to sign your files, run a utility such as CodeSign to sign your files. The ActiveX SDK includes tools to create text signatures.
  3. Use the ActiveX SDK to create test digital signatures."

The above statements should be replaced with the following corrected and updated information:

Although Visual Basic, version 5.0, does not include any tools to digitally sign components, the Setup Wizard-generated .cab files reserve space for you to add a digital signature at a later time.

You can sign your files by creating a "test certificate" with signing tools provided in the ActiveX SDK (for Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02) or Internet Client SDK (for Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and above). In addition to the code signing tools you will need either:


  1. A digital code signing certificate obtained from a Certificate Authority such as VeriSign,

    -or-
  2. A test code signing certificate created using the code signing tools mentioned above.

Note that the test code signing certificate is for test purposes only and not for final code distribution.

REFERENCES

For more information about signing code, click on the Authenticode table of contents link on the Microsoft Security Advisor site at http://www.microsoft.com/security

NOTE: Because the Microsoft Web site is regularly updated, the site address may change without notice. If this occurs, link to the Microsoft home page at the following address:

http://www.microsoft.com/


Additional query words: Authenticode

Keywords: kbdocerr KB174159


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