With the advancement of technology, many people worry about the originality aspect of the digital market. Hackers constantly find ways to attack innocent internet users and steal their identities. Additionally, the digital market is a mix of natural and fake. Users confirm a site’s authenticity by verifying if it’s secured with an SSL (Secure Socket Layers) certificate or not. Similarly, they check an executable’s or software code’s originality by verifying if a Code Signing Certificate is fixed.
Maybe you’re learning about a Signing Certificate for the first time. And you’d like to know how code signing tools can improve your life. Keep reading to find out.
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Code Signing Certificate: What Is It?
A Code Signing Certificate is a digital document that helps to bind together a cryptographic signature with the code. It uses a PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) to stamp your software codes, executables, applications, etc., with the sign.
This assures users that the code/software has not been altered or tampered with and comes from a trusted source.
Code Signing Certificates Validations
There are several kinds of Code Signing Certificates validations:
- Extended Validation (EV) Certificates provide more benefits and security than a standard Code Signing Certificate. The necessity for advanced hardware security by the Certificate Authority and its detailed vetting procedure make it safer and improve printer authenticity and user confidence.
- Standard or Organization Validation (OV) Certificates- the Certificate Authority confirms the bureau’s identity before issuing. The organization’s name is also specified in the document, proving trustworthy.
How to Use Code Signing Certificates Correctly?
If you’re a code printer, then Signing Certificates are a must. Your responsibility is to protect users from viruses and malware as they download your digital program.
A Code Signing cert can help you with this, but you should first know how to use it. There are two main things you should prioritize before anything else:
- How you get the cert- the certs follow similar cryptographic automation to ordinary SSL certificates. You first generate the personal and public keys when you appeal for a Signing document from a Certificate Authority. It uses the public key to confirm your identity.
- How to store your PKI- the Public Key Infrastructure is a vital component of the Code Signing cert. You must preserve it well to ensure that your certificate shields the software and works. An excellent place to store it is in a physical device like Hardware Security Modules. Revoke your key if it falls into the wrong hands or gets lost and issue a new one.
With that out of the way, the following are tips to improve your Code Signing Certificate and what to avoid:
- Get your Signing Certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority like Symantec, GlobalSign, etc.
- Use time-stamping to ensure that your code has not been tampered with after signing.
- Use solid cryptographic algorithms like SHA-2 and RSA with 2048-bit keys for added security.
- Avoid using self-signed certificates as they offer little to no security.
- Ensure that your Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is correct and complete before submitting it to the CA.
- Never sign code without verifying it first.
- Install your Code Signing Certificate on a secure server.
- Control access to your private key- don’t grant everyone in the IT department access to it (unless you trust them altogether). Establish role-based access (RBAC) policy within your bureau.
- Renew your Signing Certificate before it expires.
Ways a Code Signing Certificate Benefits You
Code Signing certs boast plenty of advantages. The following are some of them:
Prevents Tampering
When you sign your code, it becomes tamper-proof as any change made to the code will break the digital signature. Even hackers won’t be able to interfere since the system is solid and reliable.
Builds Trust and Credibility
A Code Signing Certificate helps build trust and credibility as it shows that you’re a legitimate business. When users see that your code is signed, they’ll be more likely to download and use it as they know it’s safe.
Protects Your Reputation
If you distribute unsigned code, you’re putting your reputation on the line as users may associate your software with viruses and malware. By signing your code, you can protect your and your agency’s reputation and ensure that users trust your software.
It Leads to More Downloads
If you sign your code, it can lead to more downloads as users will be more likely to trust and use your software, meaning more revenue for you!. This is because signing provides users a layer of security and assurance.
Smooth Integration With Countless Platforms
The code signing process is available on various platforms like:
- Adobe AIR
- Apple iOS
- Linux
- Windows
- JAVA
- Android
Most of these platforms highly approve of the code signing procedure for code distribution. Many browsers would need code signed using a document from a credible certificate authority and dismiss any action commands offered through untrustworthy sources.
Conclusion
A Code Signing Certificate is crucial for you and your business. The key is to find the right one and learn how to use it for the best results. Additionally, you should be consistent in your use of it. If you aren’t using it already, try it today and discover why many companies use and recommend it.
