"Publisher cannot be Trusted" on install .NET How to sign exe's

2k1Toaster · 09-27-2006, 04:31 AM

Stupid n00b question.

How the hell do I sign my application?! I made an app in C# and used Visual Studio's "Publish" option. Then it works and everything, but when you go to install it, it pops up "Publisher cannot be verified".

I have no clue how this whole thing works, because I am not entirely sure what it is even called. Digital Signing, Trusted Certificates, and other whatnot... I assume are all incorporated in this...

I just want my app to install when you click setup, and no stupid boxes discouraging installation because I am not signed. I would like to become "signed" however that works? Do I have to pay M$ for a certificate or some crap?

As you can see, n00b in the world program distribution!

Any help would be appreciated.

W3bMa5t3r · 09-27-2006, 04:41 AM

I could be way outta my league (in fact I think I am), but I think you're correct in the thinking you have to pay for some M$ crap. They give you the 'Verified Publisher' bit when you pay them to look at your app and give a thumbs up... If' I'm wrong... ah.. I tried..

2k1Toaster · 09-27-2006, 04:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by W3bMa5t3r

I could be way outta my league (in fact I think I am), but I think you're correct in the thinking you have to pay for some M$ crap. They give you the 'Verified Publisher' bit when you pay them to look at your app and give a thumbs up... If' I'm wrong... ah.. I tried..

See that's what I thought, but then I thought of all the downloads out there (like download.com) that are free. Obviously stupid little apps wouldn't be worthwhile to certify by M$. Yet they don't make the "This Publisher cannot be Virified" schpeel pop up.

W3bMa5t3r · 09-27-2006, 04:52 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

See that's what I thought, but then I thought of all the downloads out there (like download.com) that are free. Obviously stupid little apps wouldn't be worthwhile to certify by M$. Yet they don't make the "This Publisher cannot be Virified" schpeel pop up.

This help any?

http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com.../ms733499.aspx

galvitron · 03-04-2008, 10:27 PM

You need to get a digital certificate from what they call a "Certificate Authority". Verisign is the most popular. It costs about $500.

You MAY be able to get around that message by embedding a manifest file into your exe. To find out how to do this, look at the various step-by-steps that explain how to get "Vista Certified". It is one of the requirements for Vista Certification. You can ignore the rest and just pay attention to how to embed the manifest.

These write-ups will also tell you how to digitally sign your app but you probably do not want to spend the money for the cert...