HOWTO: Digitally Sign Your Visual Basic Internet Application

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual Basic Control Creation Edition for Windows, versions 5.0,
6.0
Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0
Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0
Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0
Microsoft Internet Client SDK, versions 4.0, 4.01

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----


SUMMARY
With Visual Basic 5.0 and later, you can now develop software easily for
distribution over the Internet. Code received via the Internet lacks
shrink-wrapped packaging to vouch for its reliability and some users may be
skeptical when asked to download your application and components. To
reassure these users that your application and components are safe to
download, you can provide a digital signature to assure your customers that
your software will not harm their systems. This article gives a brief
overview of how to have your Visual Basic Internet application or component
digitally signed.



MORE INFORMATION
Install the latest version of Internet Explorer on your system. Internet
Explorer version 3.0 or later is required. To obtain the latest version of
Internet Explorer please go to the following Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/ie/download/
Get credentials from a Certificate Authority (CA). A Certificate Authority
is a third party who will give users information about you. The CA provides
and renews your certificate, authenticates your identity, and handles legal
and liability issues for broken security. For instructions on obtaining a
certificate from a CA, visit the following Web site:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/developer/sdk/inetsdk/help/compdev/controls
You can also search the Microsoft home page for information about
"Authenticode." Obtain the latest version of the Internet Client SDK for the
tools needed to sign your code. Consult the code signing documentation
provided in the SDK for additional information on using these tools. The
Internet Client SDK is located at the following web address:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/developer/sdk/inetsdk/asetup/default.htm
Once you have obtained the Internet Client SDK and followed the instructions
for digitally signing your code, your application and/or components will be
digitally signed and ready for Internet distribution.



REFERENCES
For more information regarding digital signing, visit the following Web
site:



http://msdn.microsoft.com/developer/sdk/inetsdk/help/compdev/controls/licens
ing.htm


Also, search the Microsoft home page for information about "Authenticode."

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbCodeSign kbVBp400 kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbGrpDSVB kbDSupport
kbVBp401 kbieFAQ
Issue type : kbhowto
Technology : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbPTNotAssigned kbZNotKeyword2
kbVBA500Search kbWord600Mac kbGraph500



Last Reviewed: January 10, 2001
© 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.