Code Signing Certificate — The Best Way to Secure Your Software Code

Code signing certificates help to protect the integrity of software developers, improve software downloads, and provide trusted assurance of authentication.

A code signing certificate is a digital signature technology that allows authorized software publishers to sign their executable scripts, code, and content to authenticate their identification over the Internet. It assures software publishers and consumers about the safety of software code and content. It contains a digital signature for 32-bit and 64-bit.

A software signed with the code signing certificate technology indicates to the user that the software is a genuine software that has been verified by the certificate authority and the software code has not been tampered or altered.

Reasons to Deploy Code Signing Certificates

The reason to have code signing certificates is to protect software script and code from the potential alteration from third-party entities. Today, it is a necessary business practice for publishers to have the security software installed on their machines, and a code signing certificate helps them gain the trust and confidence of the consumer. There are several reasons why a code signing certificate is critical to have in the software before publicizing it.

How to Verify Software Is Signed by the Code Signing Certificate

Once the author signs their software with a code signing certificate, the digital signing technology creates a protected layer for the software code so that it cannot be tampered with by hackers. When the user tries to download it, the web browser quickly verifies the software and allows the user to download it without any interruption or alert message.

When the user tries to download that signed software into their system, as shown in the image below, the OS shows a pop-up message that includes the software name, publisher website, and software type.

When the user tries to install an SSL encrypted software, the OS displays an alert as displayed below.

Here, if the user clicks the link of the name, it will redirect them to the developer’s website. Whereas, on clicking the publisher’s name, a new dialogue box will appear as “Certificate Signature Details.” This box carries information from the certificate.

A code signing certificate or an EV code signing certificate supports desktop-based platforms, such as Java Applets, Apple OS X Software and Apps, Linux Software and Apps, Adobe Documents, Microsoft software and apps (.exe, .dat, .cab, .xpi, .dll, .ocx, etc.), Microsoft Office documents and Kernel Mode software. Similarly, a code signing certificate can support mobile-based platforms, such as Java, Android apps, Windows Mobile apps, iOS apps, and Blackberry and Nokia apps.

Advantages of Code Signing Certificates

• Builds trust and confidence with the integrity of the content
• Determines the identity of an original software publisher
• Boosts the number of downloads
• Creates a trustworthy image of the distributor
• Enhances software publisher’s reputation
• Compatible with all Windows OS

Compatible Web Platforms With Code Signing Certificate

• Microsoft Authenticode (Multi-Purpose)
• Microsoft Office VBA
• Java
• Mac
• Adobe AIR