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Driver Signed: What It Means and Why It Matters
If you’re a tech-savvy dawg, you may have heard the term driver signed before. But what does it actually mean, and how does it impact your computer use? Don’t worry, homie – I got you covered!
What is a Driver Signature?
Put simply, a driver signature is a security feature in Windows that verifies that a device driver has been issued by a legitimate source. When a driver is signed, it means that an independent authority has confirmed the identity of the driver’s publisher and that the driver has not been tampered with.
When you install a signed driver, you can trust that it hasn’t been modified by malware or other malicious software. This is important because drivers are responsible for communicating with hardware, and a compromised driver could result in serious security issues.
Why Windows 10 x64 Users Need Signed Drivers
If you’re using a Windows 10 x64 operating system, you might encounter some issues if you try to install an unsigned driver. By default, Windows 10 x64 requires drivers to be digitally signed to ensure the integrity of the driver.
If you attempt to install an unsigned driver, you’ll likely see a warning message informing you that Windows cannot verify the publisher of the driver. In some cases, the unsigned driver may not work at all.
How to Disable Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows 10
Now, just because Windows 10 x64 requires driver signatures doesn’t mean you can’t use unsigned drivers if you need to. If you absolutely must use an unsigned driver, you can disable driver signature enforcement temporarily.
To do this, you’ll need to enter Windows 10’s startup settings. Here’s how:
- Open the Start menu and click the Power button.
- Hold down the Shift key and click Restart.
- Select Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Startup Settings -> Restart.
- When your computer restarts, choose Disable driver signature enforcement by pressing F7.
Keep in mind that disabling driver signature enforcement can leave your computer vulnerable to security threats, so use this option at your own risk.
As a tech-savvy homie, you now understand the importance of driver signatures and how to use them to keep your computer safe and secure. Stay lit, dawg!
