Buzz
Recalling last month, Notepad++ developer Don Ho reported challenges in renewing the code signing certificate, as the certificate issued had expired. He faced issues registering a new certificate under the name 'Notepad++' since it did not exist as an organization or company. Consequently, code signing certificates were in short supply. The developer mentioned that Notepad++ will no longer be verified in the future.
While many users agree that code signing certificates are excessively priced, some are concerned that without a certificate, users cannot verify the legality of the Notepad++ package and ensure it is not maliciously altered.
Today, Notepad++ developers have just announced that in the released Notepad++ 7.6.5 update, the program will undergo verification using GPG. This allows users to authenticate the downloaded program.
To verify the downloaded program, users will be prompted to download the public key of the release on the download page and enter the key into GPG. For example, in this release, the public key can be found at the link named GPG Notepad++ Public Key on the download page.
After entering the public key, you'll need to download the corresponding signature file. Each download file (installer, ZIP file, etc.) will have its own GPG signature that will be used to verify the file as shown below.
If using a program like Gpg4Win, users should download the signature file in the same location as the Notepad++ download file. After downloading, double-click on the .sig file, and it will automatically open Gpg4Win to verify the validity of the file with the same name.
As seen in the image below, when you double-click on the file npp.7.6.5.Installer.exe.sig, it will automatically utilize Gpg4Win to verify the signature of the executable file npp.7.6.5.Installer.exe.
Mytour recommends downloading the program directly from the source to avoid downloading malicious counterfeit programs. By using this process, it adds an extra layer of user protection by allowing users to verify the signature of the file before execution.
To download the latest version of Notepad++ to your machine and install it, visit here: Download Notepad++
In case you don't want to install, you can download Notepad++ Portable from here.
Utilizing shortcuts in Notepad++ will enhance your efficiency, saving time. Refer to the list of Notepad++ shortcut keys here for quick reference.
