Windows 8 Desktop Apps- Required Certifications

Windows 8 certification has become a must in this competitive field where not just the knowledge matters but the trademark and a certification holds the accountability of the skill. Windows 8 desktop app certification is also one of the bullet points. In order to succeed in the certification of the Windows 8, the Desktop App must have the following qualities.

Technical requirement of App to Qualify for Windows 8 Desktop App

The technical key points which are essential and stand as an app to Qualify for Windows 8 Desktop App Certification are:
• It must be a standalone app
• It must run on a local Windows 8 computer
• It can be a client component of a certified Windows Server app
• It must be code and feature complete

Apps must be compatible

Apps must be so designed that the issues of crashing or not responding is completely eradicated. In short the apps need to be compatible and maintainable. It must not be dependable on VB6 runtime or on AppHelp message or any other Windows compatibility mode. Any important feature is that it must not load arbitrary DLL's to Win 32 API using HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows AppInit_dlls.

App should integrated with the Windows security

Security is a major concern and the app should be well equipped with it-the idea behind being to avoid creating exposure to Windows attaché surfaces. Attack surfaces are basically the entry points which the attackers can use to attach malicious and infected software's to corrupt the operating system. The app should be powerful ACL to secure the following:
• Executable files.
• Directories
• Directories that contain objects.
• Registry keys
Further the app should be so designed that it must reduce access to services that are easily tampered and also to keep a check on the multiple restarts especially twice in twenty four hours. The Windows 8 Certification program will check the exposure of windows attach services by checking ACLs and services which are designed in such a way that reduces the risk to Windows 8 operating system.

Support windows Security features

Apps should be so designed so as to integrate the already existing features of the Windows. Improper apps can cause buffer overruns which can be dangerous for the operating system.
The Apps must be compiled using:

SafeSEH flag which ensures safe exceptions handling
NXCOMPAT flag to prevent data execution
DYNAMICBASE flag for ASLR (address space layout randomization).

The elements the apps should not have:
• APTCA (Allow Partially Trusted Callers Attribute) that ensures secure access to strong-named assemblies
• The App should not Read/Write Shared PE Sections.

Apps must digitally sign files and drivers

Signature is a trade mark which sets ones identity. In the cyber world this is referred to as the Authenticode digital signature which symbolises that the software is genuine and authentic. It also helps in identifying the files that are infected in any way. Window has a feature known as the Kernel mode code signing enforcement feature also known as the Code Integrity which helps in identification of each and every file by creating a photo in the memory. So the app in order to comply with the Windows 8 certification should have the following features:

• The executable files like .exe, .dll, .ocx, .sys, .cpl, .drv, .scr files must be signed with an Authenticode certificate
• All kernel mode drivers installed by the app must have a Microsoft signature which can be achieved through the Windows Hardware Certification program and File System filter drivers must be signed by Microsoft.

Windows 8 Desktop Apps- Required Certifications

Technical requirement of App to Qualify for Windows 8 Desktop App

Apps must be compatible

App should integrated with the Windows security

Support windows Security features

Apps must digitally sign files and drivers

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