Software has been widely used in our daily life, work, and study, and its security issues have always been more concerned. Because only the software is safe, everyone can use it with confidence. So the question is: must the software be signed with a code signing certificate?
This is of course necessary, because the code signing certificate is a powerful tool to ensure the basic security of the software.
A code signing certificate is a digital certificate that is provided to software developers to digitally sign the executable scripts, software codes, and content they have developed. The applicant uses the digital signature of the code to identify the source of the software and the true identity of the software developer, ensuring that the code is not maliciously tampered with after being signed.
When the end user downloads, installs and runs the signed code program, the system displays the developer's information, which greatly improves security and feasibility, while also protecting the interests of software developers, allowing the software to be quickly and safely released on the Internet. Therefore, code signing certificates are mainly used for various types of development software.
To sum up, the main functions of code signing certificates are:
1) Verify the true identity of the software/program publisher;
2) Guarantee the authenticity and completeness of the content;
3) Protect the software from tampering and attacks;
4) Avoid Windows from issuing error messages and security warnings;
5) Improve customer information and increase the rate of software download, installation and issuance;
6) The software installed with the code signing certificate will eliminate the "unknown developer" security warning issued by the system and improve the user experience;
7) Create trusted software distribution channels.
Therefore, it is necessary for the software to install a code signing certificate. Friends who apply can consider international well-known brands such as DigiCert and Sectigo.