EV Code Signing vs. Regular Code Signing: Difference to know
Digital security certificates such as code signing are a key ally of developers. They act as proof that your executables or applications are secure and haven’t been modified after signing. It makes your users feel secure and comfortable when installing and using your digital products.
Obtained from a reputed Certificate Authority like Sectigo and Comodo, these certificates come in two variants: EV code signing certificate and regular code signing certificate. But most developers and publishers are confused when it comes to choosing between EV code signing vs regular code signing.
While both have their own strengths and weaknesses, selecting the right one out of the two is sometimes harder. To help you select one, here we present the prime differences between the two. This article will help you buy code signing certificate that suits your needs. So, without further ado let’s begin the article by explaining EV code signing.
What is EV Code Signing Certificate?
The Extended Validation (EV) code signing certificate offers the maximum degree of trust and confidence for users, browsers, and operating systems. It consists of an extensive verification process, where CAs ask for additional supporting documentation to confirm the authenticity of your business.
To validate each code signing request, the CA follows the standards established by the CA/B forum. Here. the individual developers are not eligible to purchase EV code signing certificates unless they are the sole proprietor of their registered firm. However, large corporations and organizations can simply get the EV Code Signing Certificate.
The validation procedure includes both business verification and the hardware security needed for storing private keys in order to prevent unwanted access. Furthermore, software with an EV certificate can easily bypass the Windows Defender SmartScreen® Reputation filter.
Thanks to that consumers no longer see unknown publishers or other security notifications. They’ll only see a verified publisher sign, which will increase customers’ trust in your digital products.
Benefits of EV Code Signing Certificates:
Building Reputation:
Software products signed with EV code signing certificates get instant recognition by Google, Mozilla, Microsoft, and others. It can easily bypass the reputation filter, which is very difficult for software with other kinds of certificates.
Security:
Storing certificate credentials requires a physical hardware token to prevent any unauthorized use or abuse of the certificate. This ensures the private keys get robust security.
Trust:
EV certificates provide the trust users are looking for when downloading software from the internet. Thus, software with an EV code signing certificate can increase your conversions and download rate.
Protection from External Threats:
Since Extended Validation code signing certificates require you to store private keys in a secure hardware token, it eliminates external threats. You can use the same to sign your executables as and when required protecting you from cyberattacks.
What is a Regular Code Signing Certificate?
Regular or standard code signing certificates are issued by Certificate Authorities after a standard business vetting process. Here, CAs will confirm your company’s identification by going through a simple and formal verification process.
They’ll ask for necessary documents and company registration details to verify the company information before issuing the certificate. Additionally, CAs may examine your company’s registration status using government documents or public data.
Businesses having up-to-date records will have no trouble completing the validation and receiving the regular code signing certificate. However, you must ensure that the information you supply is complete and accurate throughout the procedure. This information, as well as your organization’s name, will appear on the certificate.
This Individual Validation Code Signing Certificate is best suited for independent developers or small software publishers looking to boost user trust. Since it’s one of the Cheapest Code Signing Certificates, most prefer to go with regular code signing for their software.
Here are Some Reasons to use a Standard Code Signing Certificate:
Publisher Reputation:
Software signed with regular certificates establishes the publisher’s reputation so that users and machines can easily identify them. It’s also a way to assure that the software is coming from a verified source and not from fraud.
Code Integrity:
The regular code signing certificate incorporates the mandatory security standards such as hashing and others set by CA/B forums. Such standards improve software’s code integrity and ensure that it’s not altered or modified.
Improves Downloads:
Thanks to the established publisher reputation and code integrity, users would start trusting your digital products. This increased trust and confidence would translate to more downloads and installations.
Compatibility with Multiple Platforms:
The standard code signing certificate has compatibility with most reputed platforms such as Java, Windows, Adobe, macOS, and others. All these platforms have recommended software publishers to digitally sign their executables.
EV Code Signing vs Regular Code Signing: Differences to Know
| EV Code Signing Certificates | Regular Code Signing Certificates |
| Microsoft SmartScreen recognizes software certified with EV certificates right away. It will fully eliminate unknown publisher alerts. | You must naturally create a software reputation by boosting total downloads. As a result, there is no immediate reputation with Microsoft SmartScreen. |
| Two-factor authentication is available with extended validation certificates. A USB device will be used to store a private key and an encrypted token for software signing. | The certificate will be provided by the CA, which you may save to your computer. It’s an encrypted file that you can send to other computers for signing. |
| The EV code signing certificate may be used to sign kernel and user-mode drivers for Windows 10 and later. | A standard certificate can be used to certify drivers for earlier versions of Windows (Released before Windows 10). |
| The validation procedure might take up to 5 business days in this case. | Certificate issuing may take up to three business days to validate. |
| Buy Comodo EV Code Signing Certificate | Buy Comodo Code Signing Certificate |
Conclusion
So, we have discussed the differences between EV code signing vs regular code signing certificates in this article. While selecting an ideal certificate type, you must consider your business demands, and the software or executables you want to sign with using the certificate.
Most CAs provide both EV and regular code signing certificates for you to choose one based on your requirements. You may also buy code signing certificates from reputable providers or distributors.
