1. A method for selecting an operating mode for an application having computer-executable instructions, the method comprising: ascertaining an authentication status of an entity that authored or published the application, the authentication status indicating whether the entity is recognized; evaluating a security policy to determine a first level of trust associated with the application, the first level of trust indicating whether the application should be permitted to perform an action; and based on the authentication status and the first level of trust, ascertaining an authorization status of the application, the authorization status indicating whether the application enters a first operating mode or a second operating mode, the first operating mode permitting the application to perform the action, the second operating mode not permitting the application to perform the action.