CODE SIGNING – DEVELOPER CERTIFICATES
Code Signing certificates are used to protect your code, content or other files that are transmitted over the network. By signing your file with encryption technology you confirm that you are the author of the file and guarantee that the file has not been modified by anyone. Thus, by using SSL certificates, you can have peace of mind that no one is using your work for their own purposes.
Code Signing EV certificates – benefits:
- Allows you to pass the Microsoft SmartScreen filter without any problems
- Private encryption keys are stored on a separate hardware USB token.
| Name | Brand | Validation | Issuance | Wildcard | SAN | EV | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comodo Code Signing ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |  | Organization (OV) | 1-3 days | 90.00 $ /year | |||
| Comodo EV Code Signing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Extended (EV) | 1-5 days | 375.00 $ /year | |||
| DigiCert Code Signing Certificate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |  | Organization (OV) | 1-3 days | 440.00 $ /year | |||
| DigiCert EV Code Signing Certificate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Extended (EV) | 1-5 days | 545.00 $ /year | |||
| Globalsign Code Signing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |  | Organization (OV) | 1-3 days | 250.00 $ /year | |||
| Globalsign Code Signing EV ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Extended (EV) | 1-5 days | 360.00 $ /year | |||
| Sectigo Code Signing Certificate ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |  | Organization (OV) | 1-3 days | 90.00 $ /year | |||
| Sectigo EV Code Signing Certificate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Extended (EV) | 1-5 days | 375.00 $ /year | |||
| Symantec Code Signing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |  | Organization (OV) | 1-3 days | 440.00 $ /year |
A digital code signing certificate guarantees the authenticity of the software publisher and the integrity of the code.
What are code signing certificates?
Code signing certificates also known as code signing certificates or developer certificates. Such a certificate allows you to sign a program, code, script or driver. The signature indicates the developer of the software and also guarantees the integrity and permanence of the program after it has been published by the author.
The signature also contains information about the developer of the application – an individual or an organization.
Technical parameters of code signing certificates.
The specifications that developer certificates must meet have been established by the CA/Browser Forum and Microsoft.
Certificates for code signing use two-factor authorization. That is, the private keys that are needed to sign code are stored on a separate hardware token. This protects against the use of the certificate by unauthorized persons.
What are the types of Code signing certificates, and how do they differ?
There are 2 types of code signing certificates according to the type of verification:
- With organization verification (OV)
- With extended validation (EV)
These are the differences between these certificates:
| OV Code Signing certificate | EV Code Signing Certificate |
| The reputation of the program will be created organically, as the number of downloads and installations grows. Therefore, your application will not get instant recognition in the Microsoft reputation scanner | You will get instant recognition by the Microsoft SmartScreen reputation scanner. This ensures that users will not see the “Publisher cannot be verified. Are you sure you want to run this application?” in a program that has been signed with an EV Code Signing certificate. |
| The certificate is stored on the client computer as an encrypted file that can be copied and transferred to other computers to sign a program or file. | Two-factor authentication is available. This means that the certificate is stored on the USB device, in the form of an encrypted token and a private key. And the software can only be signed using this device. |
| Can be used to sign drivers for versions that came out before Windows 10. | Required if you want to sign kernel drivers in Windows 10 or newer. |
| The release time can be from 1 to 3 days. | Release time is usually 1 to 5 days |
| Both these OV and EV Code Signing certificates can be used on any platform, including all popular web browsers. | Both these OV and EV Code Signing certificates can be used on any platform, including all popular web browsers. |
To summarize
| OV | EV | |
| Driver signing in Windows 10 | ||
| Driver signing in versions before Windows-10 | ||
| Instant Reputation in Microsoft SmartScreen | ||
| Two-factor verification with USB token or cloud signature service | ||
| Available for individuals without a registered organization | ||
| Works on all major platforms |
To summarize, OV Code Signing certificates are good if you are just starting to test your software and you have time to gradually build up a reputation based on downloads and usage.
Whereas EV Code Signing certificates are used for the most important software you already provide to your users and for signing kernel drivers.
The advantages of buying certificates from TutHost.
- We provide certificates from all major certificate authorities: Comodo, Digicert, Sectigo, Globalsign – so it will be convenient for you to compare and choose.
- We will advise and help you choose the best option for your needs.
- Due to the fact that we buy certificates in bulk – we can share our discount with customers and our price will be lower than directly in the certification center.
- We work with both individuals. The company’s main focus is on the development, telecommunications, and financial sectors. And testimonials from satisfied customers are the best way to tell about the quality of our support.
The cost of purchasing Code signing certificates in TutHost.
Developer certificates for code signing can be purchased from - per year, and if you pay for several years at once you can get an additional discount on the cost of the certificate.
You can order your Code signing certificate directly through our website. After paying for the order you will receive a link to the form, where you will need to fill in the data of the software developer for the certificate issue.
