CodeSigningZertifikate

CodeSigningZertifikate are digital certificates used to digitally sign software, scripts, and other executable code. This digital signature provides assurance to users that the code they are downloading or running has not been tampered with since it was signed by the developer. The process involves a trusted third party, known as a Certificate Authority (CA), verifying the identity of the developer or organization before issuing the certificate. When software is signed, a cryptographic hash of the code is created and then encrypted with the developer's private key. This encrypted hash is embedded within the signed code. Upon execution, the user's operating system or browser uses the developer's public key, which is part of the certificate, to decrypt the hash. It then calculates its own hash of the downloaded code and compares it to the decrypted hash. If they match, it confirms the code's integrity. Furthermore, the certificate itself is signed by the CA, allowing the system to verify the authenticity of the certificate and, by extension, the developer. This process helps protect users from malware and other malicious software, as unsigned or tampered code will trigger security warnings. Code signing is particularly important for distributing applications on major platforms like Windows, macOS, and mobile app stores.