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Besides this, it doesn't seem like you can protect.snk files with a password. What you can do in this case is to use a PKCS#12 file (.pfx) instead which can be used to sign the assemblies and also can be password protected. You can generate a PKCS#12 file using a library such as BouncyCastle.NET. Press generate and follow instructions to generate (public/private) key pair. Create a new 'authorizedkeys' file (with Notepad): Copy your public key data from the 'Public key for pasting into OpenSSH authorizedkeys file' section of the PuTTY Key Generator, and paste the key data to the 'authorizedkeys' file.

A strong name consists of the assembly's identity—its simple text name, version number, and culture information (if provided)—plus a public key and a digital signature. It is generated from an assembly file using the corresponding private key. (The assembly file contains the assembly manifest, which contains the names and hashes of all the files that make up the assembly.)

Warning

Do not rely on strong names for security. They provide a unique identity only.

A strong-named assembly can only use types from other strong-named assemblies. Otherwise, the integrity of the strong-named assembly would be compromised.

Note

Although .NET Core supports strong-named assemblies, and all assemblies in the .NET Core library are signed, the majority of third-party assemblies do not need strong names. For more information, see Strong Name Signing on GitHub.

Strong name scenario

The following scenario outlines the process of signing an assembly with a strong name and later referencing it by that name.

  1. Assembly A is created with a strong name using one of the following methods:

    • Using a development environment that supports creating strong names, such as Visual Studio.

    • Creating a cryptographic key pair using the Strong Name tool (Sn.exe) and assigning that key pair to the assembly using either a command-line compiler or the Assembly Linker (Al.exe). The Windows SDK provides both Sn.exe and Al.exe.

  2. The development environment or tool signs the hash of the file containing the assembly's manifest with the developer's private key. This digital signature is stored in the portable executable (PE) file that contains Assembly A's manifest.

  3. Assembly B is a consumer of Assembly A. The reference section of Assembly B's manifest includes a token that represents Assembly A's public key. A token is a portion of the full public key and is used rather than the key itself to save space.

  4. The common language runtime verifies the strong name signature when the assembly is placed in the global assembly cache. When binding by strong name at run time, the common language runtime compares the key stored in Assembly B's manifest with the key used to generate the strong name for Assembly A. If the .NET Framework security checks pass and the bind succeeds, Assembly B has a guarantee that Assembly A's bits have not been tampered with and that these bits actually come from the developers of Assembly A.

Note Bouncycastle generate pgp key pair java.

This scenario doesn't address trust issues. Assemblies can carry full Microsoft Authenticode signatures in addition to a strong name. Authenticode signatures include a certificate that establishes trust. It's important to note that strong names don't require code to be signed in this way. Strong names only provide a unique identity.

Bypass signature verification of trusted assemblies

Starting with the .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1, strong-name signatures are not validated when an assembly is loaded into a full-trust application domain, such as the default application domain for the MyComputer zone. This is referred to as the strong-name bypass feature. In a full-trust environment, demands for StrongNameIdentityPermission always succeed for signed, full-trust assemblies, regardless of their signature. The strong-name bypass feature avoids the unnecessary overhead of strong-name signature verification of full-trust assemblies in this situation, allowing the assemblies to load faster.

The bypass feature applies to any assembly that is signed with a strong name and that has the following characteristics:

  • Fully trusted without StrongName evidence (for example, has MyComputer zone evidence).

  • Loaded into a fully trusted AppDomain.

  • Loaded from a location under the ApplicationBase property of that AppDomain.

  • Not delay-signed.

This feature can be disabled for individual applications or for a computer. See How to: Disable the strong-name bypass feature.

Related topics

TitleDescription
How to: Create a public-private key pairDescribes how to create a cryptographic key pair for signing an assembly.
How to: Sign an assembly with a strong nameDescribes how to create a strong-named assembly.
Enhanced strong namingDescribes enhancements to strong-names in the .NET Framework 4.5.
How to: Reference a strong-named assemblyDescribes how to reference types or resources in a strong-named assembly at compile time or run time.
How to: Disable the strong-name bypass featureDescribes how to disable the feature that bypasses the validation of strong-name signatures. This feature can be disabled for all or for specific applications.
Create assembliesProvides an overview of single-file and multifile assemblies.
How to delay sign an assembly in Visual StudioExplains how to sign an assembly with a strong name after the assembly has been created.
Sn.exe (Strong Name tool)Describes the tool included in the .NET Framework that helps create assemblies with strong names. This tool provides options for key management, signature generation, and signature verification.
Al.exe (Assembly linker)Describes the tool included in the .NET Framework that generates a file that has an assembly manifest from modules or resource files.
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Note

Although .NET Core supports strong-named assemblies, and all assemblies in the .NET Core library are signed, the majority of third-party assemblies do not need strong names. For more information, see Strong Name Signing on GitHub.

There are a number of ways to sign an assembly with a strong name:

  • By using the Signing tab in a project's Properties dialog box in Visual Studio. This is the easiest and most convenient way to sign an assembly with a strong name.

  • By using the Assembly Linker (Al.exe) to link a .NET Framework code module (a .netmodule file) with a key file.

  • By using assembly attributes to insert the strong name information into your code. You can use either the AssemblyKeyFileAttribute or the AssemblyKeyNameAttribute attribute, depending on where the key file to be used is located.

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  • By using compiler options.

Snk File Extension

You must have a cryptographic key pair to sign an assembly with a strong name. For more information about creating a key pair, see How to: Create a public-private key pair.

Create and sign an assembly with a strong name by using Visual Studio

  1. In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the project, and then choose Properties.

  2. Choose the Signing tab.

  3. Select the Sign the assembly box.

  4. In the Choose a strong name key file box, choose Browse, and then navigate to the key file. To create a new key file, choose New and enter its name in the Create Strong Name Key dialog box.

Note

In order to delay sign an assembly, choose a public key file.

Create and sign an assembly with a strong name by using the Assembly Linker

At the Developer Command Prompt for Visual Studio, enter the following command:

al/out:<assemblyName> <moduleName>/keyfile:<keyfileName>

Where:

  • assemblyName is the name of the strongly signed assembly (a .dll or .exe file) that Assembly Linker will emit.

  • moduleName is the name of a .NET Framework code module (a .netmodule file) that includes one or more types. You can create a .netmodule file by compiling your code with the /target:module switch in C# or Visual Basic.

  • keyfileName is the name of the container or file that contains the key pair. Assembly Linker interprets a relative path in relation to the current directory.

The following example signs the assembly MyAssembly.dll with a strong name by using the key file sgKey.snk.

For more information about this tool, see Assembly Linker.

Sign an assembly with a strong name by using attributes

  1. Add the System.Reflection.AssemblyKeyFileAttribute or AssemblyKeyNameAttribute attribute to your source code file, and specify the name of the file or container that contains the key pair to use when signing the assembly with a strong name.

  2. Compile the source code file normally.

    Note

    The C# and Visual Basic compilers issue compiler warnings (CS1699 and BC41008, respectively) when they encounter the AssemblyKeyFileAttribute or AssemblyKeyNameAttribute attribute in source code. You can ignore the warnings.

Generate Snk File From Public Key Largo

The following example uses the AssemblyKeyFileAttribute attribute with a key file called keyfile.snk, which is located in the directory where the assembly is compiled.

You can also delay sign an assembly when compiling your source file. For more information, see Delay-sign an assembly.

Sign an assembly with a strong name by using the compiler

Compile your source code file or files with the /keyfile or /delaysign compiler option in C# and Visual Basic, or the /KEYFILE or /DELAYSIGN linker option in C++. After the option name, add a colon and the name of the key file. When using command-line compilers, you can copy the key file to the directory that contains your source code files.

For information on delay signing, see Delay-sign an assembly.

Generate Snk File From Public Key Online

The following example uses the C# compiler and signs the assembly UtilityLibrary.dll with a strong name by using the key file sgKey.snk.

C# Snk File

See also