Understanding the difference between the two widely used security certificates as a Code Signing Certificate and SSL Certificate.

1. Difference
Code Signing Certificate
Vs
SSL Certificate

2. Code Signing Certificate
• A code signing certificate works like a guarantee that
the code of a program, application, or any software you
downloaded has not been tampered with since it was
signed by the publisher, which is done with the help of
a digital signature and by hashing the digital signature
with the software.
• A code Signing certificate provides a method of putting
a digital signature on software or any executable file so
its authenticity and integrity can be verified at the time
of installation or execution. You can say it’s like a wax
seal which guarantees to its recipient who the author is
and that it has not been opened or tampered with
since it was signed.

3. Software Error – Code Signing Certificate not installed
No Error/warning – Code Signing Certificate Installed

4. • An SSL/TLS Certificate is a digital file, which is used for
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer
Security). It’s used to fulfill two functions:
• Assist with authentication and verification of the
identity of a host or website.
• Enables encryption of information which is
exchanged between the user’s browser and a
website server.
• Failing to install an SSL/TLS Certificate leads to a
warning message similar to the code signing certificate,
but it’s shown in the web browser, whenever any user
tries to access the site:
SSL Certificate

5. How website looks in browser with SSL Certificate
How website looks in browser without SSL Certificate

6. Code Signing Certificate vs SSL Certificate
Code Signing Certificate SSL Certificate
Used to Secure Software
Applications
Scripts
Exécutables (.exe)
Device Drivers
Websites (Small, Medium, Ecommerce,
Social Media, Banking, Government,
etc)
Object Identifier (OID) 1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.3 Client Authentication: 1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.2
Server Authentication:
1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1
Users Software developers or publishers Owners of websites

7. Code Signing Certificate vs SSL Certificate
Code Signing Certificate SSL Certificate
Validation Types • Standard Validation (Organization or
Individual Code Signing Certificate)
• Extended Validation
• Domain Validation
• Organization Validation
• Extended Validation
Encryption
It does not encrypt the software, but
hashes the digital signature of the
software publisher, and the code.
Hashing is like putting a seal on the
software code, similar to a wax seal on
a letter.
It encrypts the data transferred
between the website server and the
user’s web browser.
Assurance
Code signing assures the integrity of
the code.
SSL/TLS Certificate ensures the security
of an online transaction done between
the user’s browser and a server.

8. Code Signing Certificate vs SSL Certificate
Code Signing Certificate SSL Certificate
Validation Types If your software was signed using
timestamping service, it’s possible to
verify its integrity and validity even
after certificate expiration.
An SSL/TLS certificate becomes invalid
and shows a warning message to users
once it expires.
Validity Period
Up to three years. Up to two years.
Popular Certificate
Authorities
Symantec, Thawte, Comodo/Sectigo
Comodo, Sectigo, RapidSSL, Thawte,
GeoTrust, Symantec, DigiCert

9. Code Signing Certificate vs SSL Certificate
Code Signing Certificate SSL Certificate
Other Features Provides private key in an external USB,
which works like a two-factor
authentication at the time of signing
the software.
Dynamic site seal for certain Domain
Validated and Organization Validated
and Extended Validated SSL/TLS
Certificate.
Warranty Amount Only two certificate authorities,
Symantec and Thawte, give a warranty.
Mostly, all the branded certificate
authorities provide warranty for the
paid SSL/TLS certificates.

10. THANK
YOU
Source: https://codesigningstore.com/code-signing-certificate-vs-ssl-certificate