What is a .PVK file?
PVK is a Microsoft private-key file, used with Authenticode code signing.
- Did you know
- A PVK pairs with a Software Publisher Certificate (.spc) and the two are usually merged into a .pfx file with Microsoft’s pvk2pfx tool.
- It holds the private half of an Authenticode key used to sign Windows executables, drivers and installers.
- PVK is an old Microsoft CryptoAPI key container, which is why modern signing workflows convert it to the more portable PKCS#12 (.pfx) first.
- What Analyser reads
- Identify and read more security and forensics files: OpenPGP messages/keys/signatures (.pgp/.gpg/.sig - armor type, packet walk, key algorithm and user ID, secret-key warning), YARA rules, Snort/Suricata IDS rules, STIX/OpenIOC threat intel, Fiddler captures (.saz), 1Password exports (.1pux), Apple Keychain, KeePass 1.x (.kdb), Microsoft keys (.pvk) and AFF/AFF4 forensic images.
- Depth of analysis
- .PVK is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
- Open a .PVK file
- Drag a .PVK file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.