What is the difference between . cer, . pfx and . pvk?

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I was tinkering with some files that are certified digital and security certificates, so I came up with the question:

What’s the difference between a file .cer, .pfx and .pvk?

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Follow this translated answer of another question asked in ONLYen:

What is the difference between a cer, pvk and pfx file?

Windows uses the extension .cer for an X.509 certificate. These may be in "binary" (ASN.1 DER), or may be coded with Base-64 and have a header and footer applied (PEM). Windows will recognize it too. To verify the integrity of a certificate, you should check your signature using the public key of the issuer ... which is, by your time, another certificate.

Windows uses .pfx to an archive PKCS #12. This file may contain a variety of cryptographic information, including certificates, certificate chains, root authority certificates and keys private individuals. Your content can be encrypted (with passwords) to keep private keys and preserve the integrity of root certificates.

Windows uses .pvk for a particular key file. I don’t have certainty what standard (if any) Windows follows for these. We hope that be key PKCS #8 coded.

You should never reveal your private key. These are contained in files .pfx and .pvk.

Usually, you just change your certificate (.cer) and certificates of any intermediary issuers (i.e., the certificates of all their CA’s, except the CA root) with other parts.

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