Finding Code Signing Certificate for Excel Spreadsheet

[MagnusNovak]

Hi there,

I regularly share my spreadsheets with other users online and I would like to sign them by using a code signing certificate. I previously tried to use the Comodo/Sectigo Code Signing certificate (https://cheapsslsecurity.com/comodo/...rtificate.html) but after months of back and forth with the support team, I wasn't able to make it work as I would always get the error message "Your signature could not be added tp the document. If your signature requires a smart card, ensure that your card reader is installed correctly" when trying to sign any of my spreadsheets (despite having the certificate correctly installed on my pc).

Apparently, the issue was "not related to the certificate itself, but has something to do with Microsoft's system. Sectigo tested a Microsoft-issued certificate that had no relation to any Sectigo certificate and they were still not able to complete the signature during testing. Since Sectigo was unable to apply a signature to an Excel file with a Microsoft-issued certificate, it seems unlikely that any certificate authority might be able to provide a code signing certificate that will work for this function.". Not sure to understand what it means but anyway, we couldn't make it work so they refunded me.

The issue now is that I'm having a hard time finding an alternative provider that offers code signing certificates so do you have any suggestion?

It's really important for me to be able to sign the files so they become trusted sources, otherwise users will face difficulties downloading and opening the spreadsheets.

Thanks,

[Greg M]

Hi there,

Just a suggestion: if your Users know and trust you and will accept a "personal" certificate rather than a certificate issued by a company like Comodo, you might be able to use self-certification instead:

https://www.techrepublic.com/article...in-office-365/

Hope this might be of some interest.

Regards,

Greg M

[MagnusNovak]

Thanks, I've thought about it but I think it would probably better to get a recognized certificate provided by a third party. Just need to find one and it doesn't seem easy!