Signing apps and drivers with security certificates

22 Jan 2010

Signing an app and/or device driver with a security certificate can provide many benefits when running in the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system, even when the device is already running in an "Unsigned" or "Privileged" Authentication Security Mode Level (as are all of our rugged handheld computer products by default). Information on how to sign an app or driver is provided at the following webpages.

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsmobile/dd569931
• https://knowledge.verisign.com/support/code-signing-support/index?page=content&id=AR723
• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsmobile/dd569132

   

One particular benefit is if the app or driver is to be loaded at startup, it can actually be loaded even earlier during the boot process (ahead of apps in the standard StartUp folder). With a device driver, this may prevent a user from having to perform an additional Suspend and Resume after a reboot get it to load properly before then being able to successfully use the associated connected device.

Other benefits are listed at the following webpages.

• http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=146095&clcid=0x409
• http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=146096&clcid=0x409