How Do I Export Code Signing Certificate from Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Firefox on Windows?
Code Signing Certificate: How to Export to Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Firefox in Windows System
A Code Signing certificate is an essential item that provides improved security to your data or software. By digitally signing the software, it ensures the code for your software has not been tampered with and is safe to use. Apart from it, there are multiple other benefits of the code signing certificate, both for users and software publishers.
However, after purchasing the code signing certificate, many users often get confused about how to export it to their browsers. So this blog is dedicated to how you can export your code signing certificate on different Windows browsers. Let us start!
What is Code Signing?
Code signing is a process of digitally signing the code of your software, application, or executables. It ensures the users of the software that its code has not been tampered with and is safe to use.
A code signing certificate verifies the identity of the publisher using a hash function and certifies that no modifications have been done to the software since it was published.
All modern OS when installing new software or application, validate digital signatures to ensure software integrity. In case the digital certificate is not present, it warns the user that the software may be unsafe to use.
Code Signing Process
There are several steps included in the code signing process. The process starts with the creation of a unique key pair. As the code signing process leverages public key cryptography, a unique pair of public-private keys is created.
After its creation, the key is sent to the certification authority (CA) from where you are buying your certificate.
The CA returns the public key to the software developer verifying that the key belongs to the software publisher. It then issues a code signing certificate to the owner. After your return of digital code signing certificate and public key, the code is run through a hash function.
The hash function transforms the software code into an arbitrary mixture of values which is encrypted using the private key. Now this encrypted code, hash function, and code signing certificate are combined together into a signature block and added to the software.
After receival of the software, the user computer firstly verifies the authenticity of the code signing certificate. Once confirmed, the encrypted data is decrypted with the original public key. Lastly, the has function in the system is matched with sent software, which determines the software is safe to install in your system.
What are the Benefits of Code Signing?
A code signing certificate is extremely important to protect the identity of a software. Here are some of its benefits:
Trustworthiness of the Software
A software which is digitally signed lets the user know that no modification in the code has been done by any third-part and it is completely safe to use.
Easy Distribution of Software
The software distributors show a high amount of trust in software that are digitally signed as it becomes easier for them to sell such software.
Software Integrity
A code signing certificate ensures that the code used to develop the application is of high-quality and tested to deliver the best performance and outcome for users.
How to Export Code Signing Certificates in Windows Systems?
Foremostly, you must purchase and install the code signing certificate to your windows system. You can buy an authentic code signing certificate from the given link. Once downloaded and installed, the next step is to import it to different browsers on your system.
Down-below is given the process for exporting the code signing certificate on different browsers:
Internet Explorer
Follow the given steps to import your code signing certificate:
1. Open your internet explorer and go to Internet Options from the Settings wheel on the top right corner.
2. Go to the ‘Content’ tab and click on Certificates.
3. Navigate to the ‘Personal’ tab in the Certificates window.
4. Select your code signing certificate and press the ‘Export’ button.
5. A Certificate Export Wizard will pop up. Click Next to go ahead.
6. An Export Private Key page will appear.
7. Select the option which says, ‘Yes, export private key’ and then, click Next.
8. An Export File Format page will appear. Select the option which says Personal Information Exchange – PKCS #12 (.PFX).
9. Checkmark the ‘Include all certificates in the certification path if possible’ and click Next.
10. A ‘Security’ page will be displayed, check the option ‘Password’. Enter the password in both the fields and then press the Next button.
11. A File to Export page will pop-up, click Browse and select the location where you wish to save your certificate and its private key (.pfx file). Give a name to the file and Save it and press the Next button. (Make sure to remember the location where you saved the certificate)
12. Next a Completing the Certificate Export Wizard page will appear. Review the selected settings and click on Finish.
13. A “The export was successful” message will appear and click Ok.
Your import process is now successfully completed and the certification is stored in its destination directory.
Google Chrome
Follow the given steps to import your code signing certificate:
1. Open your Google Chrome browser and go to Settings.
2. Navigate to ‘Show Advanced Settings’ under default browser.
3. Click Manage certificates under HTTPS/SSL.
4. A Certificate Window will appear. Navigate to the Personal tab and select your code signing certificate and select the Export button.
5. It will open the Certificate Export Wizard, go to the Welcome page and click Next.
6. Select Yes, export private key on the Export Private Key page and click Next.
7. An Export File Format page will appear. Select Personal Information Exchange – PKCS #12 (.PFX). Check the option ‘Include all certificates in the certification path if possible, and select Next.
8. Check Password on the Security page. Enter the Password in both the fields and click on Next.
9. The File to Export page will appear, go to browse and select the location where you wish to store your code signing certificate (w/private key). Provide a name to the file and Save it. Press the Next button.
10. A Completing the Certificate Export Wizard page will appear, review the settings and click on the Finish button.
11. You will receive ‘The export was successful’ message.
12. Click Ok.
Your code signing certificate will be successfully exported to your Chrome browser.
Mozilla Firefox
Follow the given steps to import your code signing certificate from Firefox:
1. Open your Firefox browser and go to Options.
2. Navigate to the Advanced tab. Select Certificates tab and Click on View Certificates.
3. A Certificate Manager window will appear. Go to the Your Certificates tab, and select your code signing certificate.
4. Click the ‘Backup’ option.
5. A File Name to Backup window will appear. Select the location where you want to store your code signing certificate (w/private key). Provide the name to the file and click on Save button.
6. It will display a Choose a Certificate Backup Password window.
7. Create a Certificate backup password and click Ok.
8. A ‘Successfully backed up your security certificate(s) and private key(s) message,’ will appear. Click on Ok button.
Your certificate will be successfully exported to the Firefox browser.
Read more on How to Export Code Signing Certificate from FireFox.
Conclusion
A code signing certificate provides enhanced security to your software. Besides, it gives confidence to the users and software distributors that the software is safe to use.
Hence, you must definitely buy code signing certificate and export it to your browser for a safe internet browsing experience. In case you need any help or information about the code signing certificate, you can contact our team and get the needed help.
