Self-Signed Certificates for Application Signing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer systems face challenges in distinguishing between legitimate and malicious software applications, particularly in preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data and resources, as traditional certification authorities may not always verify the trustworthiness of software developers effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method for self-signing computer applications using self-signed certificates, allowing developers to sign their own applications without a central certification authority, and using these certificates to control access to resources based on matching signatures, ensuring interoperability and trust among applications from the same developer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional certification authorities are used to verify software developers, then trustworthiness verification is improved, but system complexity and dependency on external authorities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-signed certificates where developers create their own digital certificates without requiring external certification authorities. The developer's private key securely generates a public key certificate that serves as trust evidence, eliminating dependency on third-party CA infrastructure and reducing system complexity while maintaining developer-controlled trust verification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the certification function from external authorities and places it within the developer's own system. By removing the mandatory intermediary CA layer, the system achieves simpler architecture where developers independently manage their own certification and trust verification
2Ease of manufacture
If self-signed certificates are used by developers, then ease of application signing is improved, but trustworthiness compared to centrally authenticated certificates deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables developers to independently create and manage their own digital certificates using their private keys. This self-service approach simplifies the signing process by eliminating the need to obtain certificates from external CAs, while the cryptographic security of the private key maintains the trustworthiness of the signed applications
3Adaptability or versatility
If self-signed certificates are used, then independence from external authorities is improved, but security trust level compared to centrally authenticated certificates deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a model where developers independently generate and manage their own digital certificates without external authority intervention. The security trust level is maintained through strong cryptographic practices where the private key securely generates the public key certificate, providing independence while preserving security through mathematical cryptography rather than institutional trust
4Productivity
If application developers sign applications locally without central authority assistance, then development efficiency is improved, but verification reliability by users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables developers to sign applications locally using their own private keys without requiring central authority assistance. The verification reliability is maintained through cryptographic verification where users can independently verify the signature using the developer's public key, ensuring that the development process remains efficient while verification remains reliable through mathematical cryptography
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for signing computer applications is disclosed. The method includes generating a compiled version of a first software application, signing the first software application with a digital certificate locally to a developer of the first software application without assistance from a central certification authority, and submitting the signed first software application to an on-line application store.