Internet users increasingly need assurance that they can trust web sites and downloads. A Comodo Code Signing Certificate allows developers to add a layer of assurance that tells users that their software can be trusted and does not come from a malicious hacker.
A Code Signing Certificate allows IT developers to digitally sign their software before distribution over the Web. End users downloading your digitally signed 32-bit or 64-bit program can be confident that the code has actually come from you and has not been modified since it was signed.
Note: Comodo recommends using Internet Explorer for our code signing process, but the process should work for all major web browsers.
Features of Code Signing Certificate
- Verifies publisher’s identity
- Creates a trusted sales outlet
- Maintains content authenticity
- Protects software from tampering
- Improves customer confidence
- Improves software downloads
- Creates a trusted distribution outlet
- Protects the integrity of software publisher
- Windows 7 Compatible
- Widely supported
What is Code Signing Certificate?
When customers buy software from a store, the source of that software is evident. Customers know who published the software, and also see whether the package has been unsealed. These factors enable them to make decisions about what software to buy and how much to rely on those products.
Customers downloading applications signed with a Code Signing Certificate from your website can be confident that code comes from you and not been altered since its creation and signing. A Digital ID acts as virtual “shrink-wrap” for your software. If your code is tampered in any way, after it is signed, the digital signature will break and cautions customers that the code is not credible.
When customers download software signed with a Code Signing Certificate issued by Comodo they can be assured of:
- Content Source: End users can confirm that the software really comes from the publisher who signed it.
- Content Integrity: End users can verify that the software has not been modified since it was signed.
Features & Benefits of Code Signing
Customer Confidence
They assure customers that you are trustworthy enough to do business with.
Authenticity
After downloading, end users can be sure that the code they obtained really came from you, helping you preserve your business reputation and intellectual property. Digital ID’s allow customers to identify the author of digitally signed code and contact them should an issue or query arise.
Widely Supported
Comodo Code Signing Certificates are compatible with all major formats, including Microsoft Authenticode (including kernel-mode signing), Adobe Air, Apple applications and plug-ins, Java, MS Office Macro and VBA, Mozilla object files and Microsoft Silverlight applications.
Seamless Integration with Industry-Standard Technology
Most browsers will not accept action commands from downloaded code unless the code is signed by a certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority, such as Comodo.
Ease of Use
Code signing certificates are easy to use in conjunction with the vendor software tools that developers use to create products, macros and objects.
How does Authenticode work with Comodo Digital IDs?
Microsoft Authenticode relies on industry standard cryptography techniques such as X.509 v3 certificates and PKCS #7 and #10 signature standards. These are proven cryptography protocols, which ensure a robust implementation of code signing technology.
A certificate for Microsoft Authenticode uses a digital signature to assure users of the origin and integrity of software. In a digital signature, the private key generates the signature, and the corresponding public key validates it. To save time, the Authenticode protocols use a cryptographic digest, which is a one-way hash of the document.
