Stop losing users to "Unknown Publisher" warnings. Code Signing certificates digitally sign your .exe, .msi, .dll, drivers, and scripts — proving authenticity and integrity. Windows SmartScreen, macOS Gatekeeper, and antivirus engines trust signed software with your verified company name.
When users download software today, their operating system — Windows, macOS, Linux — checks whether the file is digitally signed by a trusted publisher. If the software is unsigned, users see a security warning: "Unknown Publisher" or "This file may harm your computer." Many users abandon the installation entirely at this point.
A Code Signing certificate works differently from an SSL/TLS certificate. Instead of encrypting web traffic, it creates a cryptographic digital signature embedded into your executable file, installer, script, or driver. This signature proves two critical things: (1) the code was created by your verified identity, and (2) the code has not been modified or tampered with since you signed it.
Unsigned software damages user trust, increases support tickets ("is this safe to install?"), and triggers antivirus false positives. A Code Signing certificate is the professional standard for distributing any software.
Filter by brand. Sign executables, installers, drivers, and scripts with trusted CA-issued certificates.
Both are issued by trusted CAs. The difference is reputation speed, key storage, and Windows kernel driver eligibility.
Organization Validated — your verified company name displayed to users. Reputation builds gradually with usage.
Extended Validation — instant SmartScreen reputation, USB hardware token required. Mandatory for kernel driver signing.
Build user trust, prove code authenticity, and reduce antivirus false positives — automatically.
Replace Windows SmartScreen's "Unknown Publisher" warning with your verified company name — dramatically increasing user confidence and installation completion rates.
The cryptographic signature guarantees your code has not been tampered with, corrupted, or injected with malware after publication — protecting users and your reputation.
Unsigned software is frequently flagged by antivirus engines. A Code Signing certificate from a trusted CA significantly reduces false positives and improves your reputation score.
A single Code Signing certificate works across multiple platforms and file formats.
Everything you get with every OBHost Code Signing certificate.
Code Signing is for software files. SSL/TLS is for websites. You may need both.
If you distribute software via your website, you also need an SSL certificate to secure your site. DV SSL activates HTTPS and shows the padlock — fast issuance in minutes.
View DV SSLFor software company websites where visitors verify your organization's identity. OV SSL shows your verified company name in certificate details — same trust layer as OV Code Signing.
View OV SSLWhen you sign your software with a Code Signing certificate, a cryptographic hash (a unique fingerprint) of your executable file is created and then encrypted using your certificate's private key. This encrypted hash — the digital signature — is embedded directly into the file itself.
When a user downloads and runs your software, their operating system uses your certificate's public key to decrypt the signature and recalculate the file's hash. If the hashes match, two things are confirmed: (1) the file was signed by the holder of that certificate, and (2) the file has not changed since signing — no malware, no bit alterations.
Timestamps are also included in the signature. This means even after your certificate expires, previously signed files remain valid — the signature is trusted permanently as long as it was valid at the time of signing.
What your users see — with vs. without a Code Signing certificate.
Everything about Code Signing certificates — what they sign, how they work, OV vs EV, and Windows SmartScreen.
OV & EV Code Signing · Windows · macOS · Android · Scripts · Drivers