What role does a digital certificate play in software installation?

A digital certificate plays a crucial role in verifying the integrity of software or drivers during installation. When software is digitally signed, the certificate confirms that the code has not been altered or corrupted since it was signed by the original developer. This process ensures that the software can be trusted and that it comes from a legitimate source.

By validating the digital signature against the certificate, users and systems can be confident that the software they are about to install does not contain malicious content or has not been tampered with. This verification is essential in maintaining the security and reliability of software installations, helping to prevent issues such as malware infections or unstable software behavior.

The other options do not align with the primary function of a digital certificate in this context, as they either pertain to installation mechanics or provide irrelevant benefits that a digital certificate does not directly offer.