easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CAS-004 Code signing purpose Practice Question
Which of the following is a primary purpose of using code signing for application deployment?
⚠ Common exam trap
The CAS-004 exam often tests the misconception that code signing provides encryption or obfuscation, when in fact it only provides integrity and authenticity verification without hiding the code content.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
To verify the integrity and authenticity of the code
Code signing uses a digital signature (typically RSA or ECDSA) to bind the publisher's identity to the code. The primary purpose is to verify both the integrity (the code has not been tampered with) and the authenticity (the code comes from a trusted source) before deployment. This is achieved by hashing the code and signing the hash with the publisher's private key; the recipient verifies the signature using the publisher's public certificate.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
To encrypt the application code
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is for confidentiality; code signing does not encrypt the code.
- ✗
To prevent reverse engineering
Why it's wrong here
Code signing does not prevent reverse engineering; obfuscation or other techniques are used for that.
- ✗
To speed up application deployment
Why it's wrong here
Code signing adds overhead, not speed.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The CAS-005 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓To verify the integrity and authenticity of the codeCorrect answer▾
✗To encrypt the application codeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Encryption is for confidentiality; code signing does not encrypt the code.
✗To prevent reverse engineeringWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Code signing does not prevent reverse engineering; obfuscation or other techniques are used for that.
✗To speed up application deploymentWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Code signing adds overhead, not speed.
Analysis generated from the official CAS-005blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Quick reference
Asymmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Exchange | Signatures | Equivalent Security Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-3072 | Yes | Yes | 128-bit | Widely deployed; slow for bulk data |
| ECDSA P-256 | No | Yes | 128-bit | Fast signatures; standard TLS certs |
| ECDH / ECDHE | Yes | No | 128-bit | Perfect forward secrecy in TLS 1.3 |
| DH / DHE | Yes | No | 128-bit (3072-bit key) | Replaced by ECDHE in modern TLS |
| Ed25519 | No | Yes | ~128-bit | SSH keys, modern PKI |
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About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CAS-005 question from scratch — 968 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CAS-005 exam.