Mobile applications are nowadays used for daily tasks like banking, payment processing, online shopping, and communication. Cyber culprits are targeting innocent users by making fraudulent apps, as many users are unaware of such duplicate mobile apps. Thus, it has created concern for mobile app developers. To get the required security for an app and instil user’s trust, developers should use a Code Signing certificate, an ideal digital certificate to ensure app security. Code tampering, unauthorized code access, as well trust building can be easily achieved with a Code Signing Certificate.
In this article, we discover how code-signing certificates help Android developers secure their apps
What is a Code Signing certificate?
A Certificate Authority (CA) issues a Code Signing certificate to individual developers or organizations. The certificate authority issues a Code Signing certificate to confirm the developer’s identity and the application’s ownership.
The main purpose of such a certificate is to assure customers of the app’s authenticity. The certificate wraps an application to avert any malicious editing or control during the distribution of an application.
Benefits of Code Signing Certificate for Android App Developers
Why does a developer need a Code signing certificate? What are the benefits of a Code Signing certificate? Let us find answers to these two important questions in the information below:
1. Confirms Identity
Code signing certificates prove the application’s authenticity. With a digital signature, the certificate wants users to know that the application is from a trustworthy source. The certificate also confirms that the application is original and valid as well not been modified by cyber culprits.
2. Avoid Third-Party Intervention
An application that a developer wants to sign will be tampered with proof with a Code Signing certificate. While signing a code, a hash is created that binds to the application’s content. When an end user installs an app, the hash is validated. In case of any changes to a signed app, the hash and signature will be invalid and it means the code integrity is compromised.
3. Authenticated Updates
An application on Android may have upcoming releases, and the digital signing certificate should remain the same across all versions. During a new update, the system checks the APK to ensure that the package is signed with the same key. Thus, it also confirms that only the original developer of an application can update the app and not fraudsters who try to distribute fake updates over the internet.
4. Distribution Requirements
A developer needs to sign an APK before publishing it on the Android store. Google requires an originated source of an application to avoid unauthorized distribution of an application. Moreover, Google also stores and manages the app’s signing key for further security and control of an original application.
5. Improving User Trust
When an end user downloads an application, a digital signature gives the user confidence to download the application. A signed app guarantees end users that the application is trusted and not altered since it is signed.
How Code Signing Certificates Help Android Developers?
Without signing your code, all the effort developers put into creating the app may go to waste, as users will see warnings for unsigned apps and avoid downloading them. Additionally, apps must not be put on the Google Play store unless they are stamped with a valid signing key.
Code signing certificate helps Android developers to authenticate their identity to win the end user’s trust. Besides the discussed above benefits, a Code Signing certificate also helps boost their reputation, increase app downloads, as well timestamp the app code. Let us discuss them individually.
Increase App Downloads: A Code Signing certificate makes sure that users are downloading an authenticated application and is from genuine resources. Thus, In a way, it increases users’ confidence, allowing them to download an app knowing it has a digital signature making it different from the fake apps.
Timestamping: The feature of Timestamping is a must for a Code Signing certificate as this would allow a code to remain valid, even when the certificate expires. Users will not face any warning while using such an application as the operating system does check the signature applied to the application. Therefore, users do not have to worry about the Code security or its expiry date.
Reputation: Without the developer's private key, nothing could be trusted by the user's side. If the signing key is compromised, third-party attackers will have access to the ability to release modified versions of the app. Thus, the damage to reputation and loss of trust from users. You can also manage your signing keys securely using Google's Play App Signing service and improve your app authenticity.
Also Read : How to Install SSL Certificate on Android
Conclusion: A Code Signing certificate is used to protect code integrity, establish ownership, and make sure the virtual world is safe for the users. Regardless of the type of app development project you are working on, a Code Signing certificate is essential for browser extensions, mobile apps, drivers, binary files or software.
In this article, we tried to explain the relationship between Android software and code-signing certificates that will help you secure your app in the future.
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