Code Signing: A Guide for Small Businesses in New York

In the days of dial-up internet, abysmal speeds, and 15-megabyte hard disk drives, the idea of procuring software for business only involved marching right into the nearest store for a licensed copy. Back when laptops only had disc drives, and computers were barely moving past the use of floppy disks, getting the right software was much easier because trusted retailers were a solution. 

Fast-forward a decade or two later, and now we’re talking about an entirely new game, where all it takes to download a piece of software is to go online. Thanks to the convenience that the world of the modern web strives to uphold, finding a tool to use for work, school, or play is a matter of typing in a few words and clicking a few links. 

A modern difficulty for software and a tool that can help

As convenient as it may be to get a piece of software today, this move has also made way for unwanted changes, one of which is a difficulty in guaranteeing that a piece of software hasn’t been tampered with. 

Seeing that cybercriminals are becoming more crafty in their way to steal sensitive data and wreak havoc on the lives of users, it’s no surprise that software is also being used as a vessel. With the rise of “trojan horses” and other malware and viruses encased with an unsuspecting facade, consumers have become far more skeptical about what they download. 

This development means that your business must become more careful over the software pieces it comes across and downloads. If you have lots of sensitive parts of the customer, employee, and business information in your databases, then it’s even more crucial to tread lightly. This is because even the smallest mistakes can result in thousands of dollars of damages. 

Thankfully, there’s one tool or indicator that will help you stay well aware of any potential threats while ensuring that the copies of the software you download are safe to use: code signing.

How does code signing work?


Code signing works as a “seal of safety” software that programmers and developers affix onto their code to establish legitimacy.

By signing the scripts and executables in the software code before publishing the software for sale or download, a developing party allows a user to identify the true author of the code or software. Beyond affixing a right of real ownership and responsibility, the bigger picture of code signing is that it provides cryptographic protection against the modification of the product.

In other words, code signing helps ensure that hackers or cybercriminals can’t use a piece of software to deceive users into giving their information. This authenticates the copy in question as a legitimate copy that’s secure enough to have on your computer.

How can code signing help with protecting your soft copy valuables?

At Virtual Host Solutions, we always recommend that our clients only download software with a valid code because there is no better way to ensure its authenticity or security.

Code signing acts as a clear indicator or a “red flag” because it helps notify a user whether or not a downloadable item has been tampered with. Suppose you have a code-signed piece of software or code that’s been altered by an unauthorized party. In that case, your operating system will immediately flag it for a possible threat, saving your network and server from potential infiltration!

Conclusion


Although today’s convenience in the online world makes it quite challenging to be as safe as possible, you can always keep your servers and information in a secure state if you watch out for code signatures when downloading software. By watching out for crucial details, you can quickly determine whether or not a downloadable piece of content is trustworthy in seconds!

Are you in need of a professional website hosting service in New York that can keep your small business’s website’s performance as robust as possible? Get in touch with the experts over at Virtual Host Solutions today to see how we can help!