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Unicode C

Load an Encrypted Private Key from a PEM File

See more Private Key Examples

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.LoadEncryptedPemFile method, which loads a private key from a file, using a password when the key is encrypted. The first argument is the file path and the second is the password.

Note: The file path is relative to the application's current working directory. Absolute paths may also be used. Supply the path to your own key file.

Background: The file-based encrypted loader — the natural choice for a .pem key stored with a passphrase, as most deployment keys are. It decrypts encrypted PKCS #8 PEM and also accepts unencrypted files, so it works whether or not the specific file is protected. Supply the passphrase from a secure source.

Chilkat Unicode C Downloads

Unicode C
#include <C_CkPrivateKeyW.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    BOOL success;
    HCkPrivateKeyW privKey;
    const wchar_t *password;

    success = FALSE;

    //  Demonstrates the PrivateKey.LoadEncryptedPemFile method, which loads a private key from a file,
    //  using a password when the key is encrypted.  The 1st argument is the file path and the 2nd is
    //  the password.

    privKey = CkPrivateKeyW_Create();

    //  The key password is not hard-coded in a real application; obtain it from an interactive
    //  prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
    password = L"myKeyPassword";

    success = CkPrivateKeyW_LoadEncryptedPemFile(privKey,L"qa_data/private_encrypted.pem",password);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkPrivateKeyW_lastErrorText(privKey));
        CkPrivateKeyW_Dispose(privKey);
        return;
    }

    wprintf(L"Loaded a %s private key.\n",CkPrivateKeyW_keyType(privKey));


    CkPrivateKeyW_Dispose(privKey);

    }