by Daniel Griscom,

Latest release: 9/30/05

This document goes over the process of digitally signing a Java applet's files for use with both Netscape Navigator/Communicator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. I wrote it because I couldn't find a unified description of this process anywhere on the Web. It's written with as much detail as possible, but with the assumption that the reader basically knows his stuff. Please send any and all comments to me at .

If you wish to distribute printed copies of this document feel free to do so as long as you print the document as a whole, maintaining the copyright statements and my contact info. (It's only fair, you know.) If you wish to be notified each time this document is updated, please send Email to . (I'll never give your Email address to anyone, for any reason).

If you find this document useful, you can thank me in a number of ways:

• Send me a suggestion on how to improve it
• Tell other people about it. I love to watch the hit count rise...
• Write a document in your own field of expertise and publish it on the Web: that's how the Web grows!

This is the main page of the eleven that make up this document. The other pages are Document history Overview, Writing code for Netscape Navigator, Signing code for Netscape Navigator, Writing code for Microsoft Internet Explorer, Signing code for Microsoft Internet Explorer, Signing for both Navigator and Explorer, Signing for the Sun Java Plugin Creating and Installing your own Certificates, and Links.

Before you go any further, make sure you read the disclaimer.

Contents

• Document history
• Overview
  • The Sandbox
  • Digital IDs
  • Certificate Authorities
  • Signing Applets
  • Browser Versions
• Writing code for Netscape Navigator
• Signing code for Netscape Navigator
  • Summary of Process
  • Collect Tools
  • Set up a directory for signing
  • Find Navigator's digital ID database directory
  • Find name of your digital ID
  • Find password for your digital ID
  • Create a .jar signing batch file
  • Do the actual signing
  • Verify the signed archive
  • Install the signed archive
  • Possible problems
  • Notes
• Writing code for Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Signing code for Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Summary of Process
  • Collect tools
  • Set up a directory for signing
  • Create a .cab signing batch file
  • Do the actual signing
  • Verify the signed archive
  • Install the signed archive
  • Possible problems
  • Note on Microsoft Security Levels
• Signing for both Navigator and Explorer
• Signing for the Sun Java Plugin
  • Sun Java Plugin 1.1
  • Rolling your Own Installer
  • Using PVCj
  • Sun Java Plugin 1.2
• Creating and Installing your own Certificates
  • Introduction
  • Creating for Navigator
  • Importing into Navigator
  • Creating for Explorer
  • Enabling the Explorer Test Root
• Links
  • Examples of signed pages
  • Tools
  • Vendors
  • Articles and FAQs
• Disclaimer

Disclaimer

I believe this document to be fairly complete and correct. However, it may contain errors of various magnitude. Although I'm interested in hearing about any such errors, and will attempt to fix those brought to my attention, this information comes with no warranty, and I am not responsible for any harm you may come to by using it. Sorry.

Now my lawyer is happy.
 

Next section: Document history