# Certificate and Private Key Handling

> Decide where signing keys live in a Windows Forms app: PFX files, the user certificate store or smart cards, and who can sign with a DigitalSignature.

- **Product:** TX Text Control .NET for Windows Forms
- **Section:** Documentation
- **Kind:** Topic
- **Path:** TX Text Control .NET for Windows Forms > Security > Certificate and Private Key Handling
- **Web URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-winforms/security/certificates/
- **LLMs URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-winforms/security/certificates/llms.txt
- **LLMs-Full URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-winforms/security/certificates/llms-full.txt

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## On This Page

- [What TX Text Control Does With a Certificate](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-winforms/security/certificates/#what-tx-text-control-does-with-a-certificate)
- [Where the Key Can Live](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-winforms/security/certificates/#where-the-key-can-live)
- [Protect PFX Files and Their Passwords](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-winforms/security/certificates/#protect-pfx-files-and-their-passwords)
- [Keep Signatures Meaningful](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-winforms/security/certificates/#keep-signatures-meaningful)
- [Next Steps](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-winforms/security/certificates/#next-steps)

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## Nearby

- **Previous:** [PDF Passwords and Permissions](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-winforms/security/pdf-passwords/llms.txt)
- **Next:** [Secure Application Deployment](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-winforms/security/deployment/llms.txt)