What is the main purpose of code signing?

What is the main purpose of code signing?

• A. To ensure the software can safely interface with another signed application.
• B. To provide assurance that the software has not been subsequently modified.
• C. To guarantee the signer of the application is trusted.
• D. To confirm the designer's private key has not been compromised.

Answer: (B)

The primary purpose of code signing is to provide assurance that the software has not been subsequently modified. When developers sign their code using a cryptographic signature, it creates a unique hash of the software that is linked to the developer's identity. This signature ensures integrity; if even a small change occurs in the code after it has been signed, the signature will no longer match the hash of the modified software, indicating that it has been altered. This verification process helps build trust among users, as they can be confident that the software they are installing has not been tampered with since it was signed by the developer. Thus, users can trust the integrity of the software, which is crucial for maintaining security and protecting against malicious alterations. While trust in the signer's identity and ensuring secure interfaces with other applications are important aspects of software distribution and security practices, the foremost role of code signing centers specifically on the validation of the integrity of the code.

The primary purpose of code signing is to provide assurance that the software has not been subsequently modified. When developers sign their code using a cryptographic signature, it creates a unique hash of the software that is linked to the developer's identity. This signature ensures integrity; if even a small change occurs in the code after it has been signed, the signature will no longer match the hash of the modified software, indicating that it has been altered.

This verification process helps build trust among users, as they can be confident that the software they are installing has not been tampered with since it was signed by the developer. Thus, users can trust the integrity of the software, which is crucial for maintaining security and protecting against malicious alterations.

While trust in the signer's identity and ensuring secure interfaces with other applications are important aspects of software distribution and security practices, the foremost role of code signing centers specifically on the validation of the integrity of the code.