Explained: How EV Code Signing Certificate Works?

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Sign Your Code using External Hardware Token

Being a developer, you already know the importance of Code Signing Certificate and especially how EV Code Signing Certificate comes with extra benefits like instant Windows SmartScreen recognition, with all the benefits of standard Code Signing Certificate. But, if you’re looking for how it works, then hopefully here you will get the answer.

Purchase Process of Extended Validated Code Signing Certificate

The purchase process of EV Code Signing Certificate is quite like that standard code signing certificate. Though the difference can be seen while passing through the vetting process. Yes, when you purchase an Extended Validated Code Signing Certificate, the CAs take you through the rigorous vetting process to assure that your company is a legally registered entity. Likewise, this process can take anywhere between one to five working days. And, any failure to provide the asked document or detail can lead to delay in the issuance or even failure to get the certificate.

Private Key in an External USB Token

Unlike standard code signing certificate, the private key of your Extended Code Signing Certificate is mailed to you in an external USB token. As you know, the private key is essential, so as a precaution, it’s kept externally, which also slim down the chance of getting compromised, unless you misplace or lose that Private Key’s USB Token.

Extended Validated Code Signing Certificate – How Does it Work?

Ok, now you are aware of how the private key is stored. Now, let’s look into its process, how does EV Code Signing Certificate work. For making it easy, here below is an image, which will help you understand its process easily.

Signing the Code

Verifying the Code

Hashing – Once the software is created successfully, you have to hash it. This hashing process assures users that your software is trustworthy, and it has not tampered. For instance, while downloading the software, any failure to produce the right hash value signals the browsers that it has been compromised.

Signing – Once the hashing is done, the most important one, the signing process is the next step. Here, you will make the use of that provided external USB token, for using your private key to digitally sign and timestamp your software. It lets the browser know who’s the publisher of the software and whether it’s trustworthy or not.

Download – Once the above steps, i.e., hashing, signing, and timestamping of your software is complete, it’s ready to post it for download. And, whenever any user or customer tries to download your signed software, their browsers will recognize that you’re the publisher of the software and it will also get to know whether your software is tampered with or it’s trustworthy since its signing.

Lastly, Extended Validated Code Signing Certificate gives you one benefit, which is not possible in Standard Code Signing Certificate and its instant reputation of your application in Microsoft SmartScreen. Yes instantly, once you undergo the process and your software is signed, Microsoft will view you as a reputed company. Ultimately, more conversions while winning the trust of your customer.