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> running a signed binary doesn't save you.

True, it does not. I don't recommend downloading (random) binary installers and running them either.

With eg Linux isos, you typically already trust the signing key for your os updates.

But unless you are vigilant about your ssl root certs, you'll easily allow a lot of malicious and incompetent services to potentially intercept most of your ssl traffic... (due to there being many trusted roots by default).

> if someone has overtaken a host and replaced the binaries

This again depend on who and how the binaries are signed, and how the signatures are trusted. Typical windows (and Mac?) setups will gobble up any signature. But if you do check who signs the binaries - then the signing key will easily be the most secure part of the system - a compromised ftp/web site allow hosting malicious binaries, but typically not grant access to the signing key.

With letsencrypt a hacked web site will typically have access to a valid ssl cert - no need to further compromise mx/mail records or gain access to a business phone number etc.

A ascii-armor signed shell script can be distributed safely via a paste-bin. Unfortunately there's no good automatic/standard way to do so. Or rather no standard tool to prompt to trust the signing key - and then run the script - beyond basic gpg --search-key --key-server.. + gpgv.

Maybe signed git repos would be easiest - but I don't know how easy it is to limit which keys are trusted - if it's possible at all?

The helm project does a little dance to try and verify downloads - but for all the effort it pretty much amounts to trusting the script, not the keys/signatures:

https://github.com/helm/helm/blob/v3.6.2/scripts/get-helm-3#...

I was hopeful sequoia might help - but apparently its sqv tool is even worse than gpgv - neither can handle an ascii armored public key, and sqv can only handle detached signatures.

And just for completeness - a reminder that any cut'n'paste in the terminal is a bad idea: https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/05/26/why-you-cant-tru...



Completely agree with everyhing you say here!




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