diff --git a/payload_generator/payload_file.cc b/payload_generator/payload_file.cc
index 775a509..085ea16 100644
--- a/payload_generator/payload_file.cc
+++ b/payload_generator/payload_file.cc
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
   uint64_t signature_blob_length = 0;
   if (!private_key_path.empty()) {
     TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(PayloadSigner::SignatureBlobLength(
-        vector<string>(1, private_key_path), &signature_blob_length));
+        {private_key_path}, &signature_blob_length));
     PayloadSigner::AddSignatureToManifest(
         next_blob_offset,
         signature_blob_length,
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@
 
   // Serialize protobuf
   string serialized_manifest;
-  TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(manifest_.AppendToString(&serialized_manifest));
+  TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(manifest_.SerializeToString(&serialized_manifest));
 
   uint64_t metadata_size =
       sizeof(kDeltaMagic) + 2 * sizeof(uint64_t) + serialized_manifest.size();
@@ -251,13 +251,12 @@
   // Write metadata signature blob.
   if (major_version_ == kBrilloMajorPayloadVersion &&
       !private_key_path.empty()) {
-    brillo::Blob metadata_hash, metadata_signature;
+    brillo::Blob metadata_hash;
     TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(HashCalculator::RawHashOfFile(
         payload_file, metadata_size, &metadata_hash));
-    TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
-        PayloadSigner::SignHashWithKeys(metadata_hash,
-                                        vector<string>(1, private_key_path),
-                                        &metadata_signature));
+    string metadata_signature;
+    TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(PayloadSigner::SignHashWithKeys(
+        metadata_hash, {private_key_path}, &metadata_signature));
     TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE_ERRNO(
         writer.Write(metadata_signature.data(), metadata_signature.size()));
   }
@@ -281,16 +280,16 @@
   // Write payload signature blob.
   if (!private_key_path.empty()) {
     LOG(INFO) << "Signing the update...";
-    brillo::Blob signature_blob;
+    string signature;
     TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(PayloadSigner::SignPayload(
         payload_file,
-        vector<string>(1, private_key_path),
+        {private_key_path},
         metadata_size,
         metadata_signature_size,
         metadata_size + metadata_signature_size + manifest_.signatures_offset(),
-        &signature_blob));
+        &signature));
     TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE_ERRNO(
-        writer.Write(signature_blob.data(), signature_blob.size()));
+        writer.Write(signature.data(), signature.size()));
   }
 
   ReportPayloadUsage(metadata_size);
diff --git a/payload_generator/payload_signer.cc b/payload_generator/payload_signer.cc
index 2d0489a..cbca7fe 100644
--- a/payload_generator/payload_signer.cc
+++ b/payload_generator/payload_signer.cc
@@ -52,38 +52,36 @@
 const uint32_t kSignatureMessageLegacyVersion = 1;
 
 // Given raw |signatures|, packs them into a protobuf and serializes it into a
-// binary blob. Returns true on success, false otherwise.
-bool ConvertSignatureToProtobufBlob(const vector<brillo::Blob>& signatures,
-                                    brillo::Blob* out_signature_blob) {
+// string. Returns true on success, false otherwise.
+bool ConvertSignaturesToProtobuf(const vector<brillo::Blob>& signatures,
+                                 string* out_serialized_signature) {
   // Pack it into a protobuf
   Signatures out_message;
   for (const brillo::Blob& signature : signatures) {
-    Signatures_Signature* sig_message = out_message.add_signatures();
+    Signatures::Signature* sig_message = out_message.add_signatures();
     // Set all the signatures with the same version number.
     sig_message->set_version(kSignatureMessageLegacyVersion);
     sig_message->set_data(signature.data(), signature.size());
   }
 
   // Serialize protobuf
-  string serialized;
-  TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(out_message.AppendToString(&serialized));
-  out_signature_blob->insert(
-      out_signature_blob->end(), serialized.begin(), serialized.end());
-  LOG(INFO) << "Signature blob size: " << out_signature_blob->size();
+  TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
+      out_message.SerializeToString(out_serialized_signature));
+  LOG(INFO) << "Signature blob size: " << out_serialized_signature->size();
   return true;
 }
 
-// Given an unsigned payload under |payload_path| and the |signature_blob| and
-// |metadata_signature_blob| generates an updated payload that includes the
+// Given an unsigned payload under |payload_path| and the |payload_signature|
+// and |metadata_signature| generates an updated payload that includes the
 // signatures. It populates |out_metadata_size| with the size of the final
 // manifest after adding the dummy signature operation, and
 // |out_signatures_offset| with the expected offset for the new blob, and
-// |out_metadata_signature_size| which will be size of |metadata_signature_blob|
+// |out_metadata_signature_size| which will be size of |metadata_signature|
 // if the payload major version supports metadata signature, 0 otherwise.
 // Returns true on success, false otherwise.
 bool AddSignatureBlobToPayload(const string& payload_path,
-                               const brillo::Blob& signature_blob,
-                               const brillo::Blob& metadata_signature_blob,
+                               const string& payload_signature,
+                               const string& metadata_signature,
                                brillo::Blob* out_payload,
                                uint64_t* out_metadata_size,
                                uint32_t* out_metadata_signature_size,
@@ -100,8 +98,7 @@
       payload_metadata.GetMetadataSignatureSize();
   if (payload_metadata.GetMajorVersion() == kBrilloMajorPayloadVersion) {
     // Write metadata signature size in header.
-    uint32_t metadata_signature_size_be =
-        htobe32(metadata_signature_blob.size());
+    uint32_t metadata_signature_size_be = htobe32(metadata_signature.size());
     memcpy(payload.data() + manifest_offset,
            &metadata_signature_size_be,
            sizeof(metadata_signature_size_be));
@@ -110,9 +107,9 @@
     payload.erase(payload.begin() + metadata_size,
                   payload.begin() + metadata_size + metadata_signature_size);
     payload.insert(payload.begin() + metadata_size,
-                   metadata_signature_blob.begin(),
-                   metadata_signature_blob.end());
-    metadata_signature_size = metadata_signature_blob.size();
+                   metadata_signature.begin(),
+                   metadata_signature.end());
+    metadata_signature_size = metadata_signature.size();
     LOG(INFO) << "Metadata signature size: " << metadata_signature_size;
   }
 
@@ -125,10 +122,10 @@
     // contents. We don't allow the manifest to change if there is already an op
     // present, because that might invalidate previously generated
     // hashes/signatures.
-    if (manifest.signatures_size() != signature_blob.size()) {
+    if (manifest.signatures_size() != payload_signature.size()) {
       LOG(ERROR) << "Attempt to insert different signature sized blob. "
                  << "(current:" << manifest.signatures_size()
-                 << "new:" << signature_blob.size() << ")";
+                 << "new:" << payload_signature.size() << ")";
       return false;
     }
 
@@ -137,7 +134,7 @@
     // Updates the manifest to include the signature operation.
     PayloadSigner::AddSignatureToManifest(
         payload.size() - metadata_size - metadata_signature_size,
-        signature_blob.size(),
+        payload_signature.size(),
         payload_metadata.GetMajorVersion() == kChromeOSMajorPayloadVersion,
         &manifest);
 
@@ -164,8 +161,8 @@
   LOG(INFO) << "Signature Blob Offset: " << signatures_offset;
   payload.resize(signatures_offset);
   payload.insert(payload.begin() + signatures_offset,
-                 signature_blob.begin(),
-                 signature_blob.end());
+                 payload_signature.begin(),
+                 payload_signature.end());
 
   *out_payload = std::move(payload);
   *out_metadata_size = metadata_size;
@@ -253,21 +250,19 @@
                                                  signatures_offset,
                                                  &payload_hash,
                                                  &metadata_hash));
-  brillo::Blob signature_blob(payload.begin() + signatures_offset,
-                              payload.end());
+  string signature(payload.begin() + signatures_offset, payload.end());
   string public_key;
   TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(utils::ReadFile(public_key_path, &public_key));
   TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(PayloadVerifier::PadRSA2048SHA256Hash(&payload_hash));
-  TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(PayloadVerifier::VerifySignature(
-      signature_blob, public_key, payload_hash));
+  TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
+      PayloadVerifier::VerifySignature(signature, public_key, payload_hash));
   if (metadata_signature_size) {
-    signature_blob.assign(
-        payload.begin() + metadata_size,
-        payload.begin() + metadata_size + metadata_signature_size);
+    signature.assign(payload.begin() + metadata_size,
+                     payload.begin() + metadata_size + metadata_signature_size);
     TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
         PayloadVerifier::PadRSA2048SHA256Hash(&metadata_hash));
-    TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(PayloadVerifier::VerifySignature(
-        signature_blob, public_key, metadata_hash));
+    TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
+        PayloadVerifier::VerifySignature(signature, public_key, metadata_hash));
   }
   return true;
 }
@@ -311,7 +306,7 @@
 
 bool PayloadSigner::SignHashWithKeys(const brillo::Blob& hash_data,
                                      const vector<string>& private_key_paths,
-                                     brillo::Blob* out_signature_blob) {
+                                     string* out_serialized_signature) {
   vector<brillo::Blob> signatures;
   for (const string& path : private_key_paths) {
     brillo::Blob signature;
@@ -319,7 +314,7 @@
     signatures.push_back(signature);
   }
   TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
-      ConvertSignatureToProtobufBlob(signatures, out_signature_blob));
+      ConvertSignaturesToProtobuf(signatures, out_serialized_signature));
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -328,7 +323,7 @@
                                 const uint64_t metadata_size,
                                 const uint32_t metadata_signature_size,
                                 const uint64_t signatures_offset,
-                                brillo::Blob* out_signature_blob) {
+                                string* out_serialized_signature) {
   brillo::Blob payload;
   TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(utils::ReadFile(unsigned_payload_path, &payload));
   brillo::Blob hash_data;
@@ -339,16 +334,16 @@
                                                  &hash_data,
                                                  nullptr));
   TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
-      SignHashWithKeys(hash_data, private_key_paths, out_signature_blob));
+      SignHashWithKeys(hash_data, private_key_paths, out_serialized_signature));
   return true;
 }
 
 bool PayloadSigner::SignatureBlobLength(const vector<string>& private_key_paths,
                                         uint64_t* out_length) {
   DCHECK(out_length);
-  brillo::Blob x_blob(1, 'x'), hash_blob, sig_blob;
-  TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
-      HashCalculator::RawHashOfBytes(x_blob.data(), x_blob.size(), &hash_blob));
+  brillo::Blob hash_blob;
+  TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(HashCalculator::RawHashOfData({'x'}, &hash_blob));
+  string sig_blob;
   TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
       SignHashWithKeys(hash_blob, private_key_paths, &sig_blob));
   *out_length = sig_blob.size();
@@ -365,17 +360,16 @@
   for (int signature_size : signature_sizes) {
     signatures.emplace_back(signature_size, 0);
   }
-  brillo::Blob signature_blob;
-  TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
-      ConvertSignatureToProtobufBlob(signatures, &signature_blob));
+  string signature;
+  TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(ConvertSignaturesToProtobuf(signatures, &signature));
 
   brillo::Blob payload;
   uint64_t metadata_size, signatures_offset;
   uint32_t metadata_signature_size;
   // Prepare payload for hashing.
   TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(AddSignatureBlobToPayload(payload_path,
-                                                  signature_blob,
-                                                  signature_blob,
+                                                  signature,
+                                                  signature,
                                                   &payload,
                                                   &metadata_size,
                                                   &metadata_signature_size,
@@ -398,19 +392,19 @@
   // TODO(petkov): Reduce memory usage -- the payload is manipulated in memory.
 
   // Loads the payload and adds the signature op to it.
-  brillo::Blob signature_blob, metadata_signature_blob;
+  string payload_signature, metadata_signature;
   TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
-      ConvertSignatureToProtobufBlob(payload_signatures, &signature_blob));
+      ConvertSignaturesToProtobuf(payload_signatures, &payload_signature));
   if (!metadata_signatures.empty()) {
-    TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(ConvertSignatureToProtobufBlob(
-        metadata_signatures, &metadata_signature_blob));
+    TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(
+        ConvertSignaturesToProtobuf(metadata_signatures, &metadata_signature));
   }
   brillo::Blob payload;
   uint64_t signatures_offset;
   uint32_t metadata_signature_size;
   TEST_AND_RETURN_FALSE(AddSignatureBlobToPayload(payload_path,
-                                                  signature_blob,
-                                                  metadata_signature_blob,
+                                                  payload_signature,
+                                                  metadata_signature,
                                                   &payload,
                                                   out_metadata_size,
                                                   &metadata_signature_size,
diff --git a/payload_generator/payload_signer.h b/payload_generator/payload_signer.h
index b2d6606..7854e12 100644
--- a/payload_generator/payload_signer.h
+++ b/payload_generator/payload_signer.h
@@ -54,17 +54,17 @@
                        brillo::Blob* out_signature);
 
   // Sign |hash_data| blob with all private keys in |private_key_paths|, then
-  // convert the signatures to protobuf blob.
+  // convert the signatures to serialized protobuf.
   static bool SignHashWithKeys(
       const brillo::Blob& hash_data,
       const std::vector<std::string>& private_key_paths,
-      brillo::Blob* out_signature_blob);
+      std::string* out_serialized_signature);
 
   // Given an unsigned payload in |unsigned_payload_path|, private keys in
   // |private_key_path|, metadata size in |metadata_size|, metadata signature
   // size in |metadata_signature_size| and signatures offset in
   // |signatures_offset|, calculates the payload signature blob into
-  // |out_signature_blob|. Note that the payload must already have an
+  // |out_serialized_signature|. Note that the payload must already have an
   // updated manifest that includes the dummy signature op and correct metadata
   // signature size in header. Returns true on success, false otherwise.
   static bool SignPayload(const std::string& unsigned_payload_path,
@@ -72,9 +72,9 @@
                           const uint64_t metadata_size,
                           const uint32_t metadata_signature_size,
                           const uint64_t signatures_offset,
-                          brillo::Blob* out_signature_blob);
+                          std::string* out_serialized_signature);
 
-  // Returns the length of out_signature_blob that will result in a call
+  // Returns the length of out_serialized_signature that will result in a call
   // to SignPayload with the given private keys. Returns true on success.
   static bool SignatureBlobLength(
       const std::vector<std::string>& private_key_paths, uint64_t* out_length);
diff --git a/payload_generator/payload_signer_unittest.cc b/payload_generator/payload_signer_unittest.cc
index 52d51bc..0b863b1 100644
--- a/payload_generator/payload_signer_unittest.cc
+++ b/payload_generator/payload_signer_unittest.cc
@@ -86,19 +86,16 @@
     0x43, 0xb9, 0xab, 0x7d};
 
 namespace {
-void SignSampleData(brillo::Blob* out_signature_blob,
-                    const vector<string>& private_keys) {
-  brillo::Blob data_blob(std::begin(kDataToSign),
-                         std::begin(kDataToSign) + strlen(kDataToSign));
+void SignSampleData(string* out_signature, const vector<string>& private_keys) {
   uint64_t length = 0;
   EXPECT_TRUE(PayloadSigner::SignatureBlobLength(private_keys, &length));
   EXPECT_GT(length, 0U);
   brillo::Blob hash_blob;
   EXPECT_TRUE(HashCalculator::RawHashOfBytes(
-      data_blob.data(), data_blob.size(), &hash_blob));
-  EXPECT_TRUE(PayloadSigner::SignHashWithKeys(
-      hash_blob, private_keys, out_signature_blob));
-  EXPECT_EQ(length, out_signature_blob->size());
+      kDataToSign, strlen(kDataToSign), &hash_blob));
+  EXPECT_TRUE(
+      PayloadSigner::SignHashWithKeys(hash_blob, private_keys, out_signature));
+  EXPECT_EQ(length, out_signature->size());
 }
 }  // namespace
 
@@ -112,18 +109,16 @@
 };
 
 TEST_F(PayloadSignerTest, SignSimpleTextTest) {
-  brillo::Blob signature_blob;
-  SignSampleData(&signature_blob,
-                 {GetBuildArtifactsPath(kUnittestPrivateKeyPath)});
+  string signature;
+  SignSampleData(&signature, {GetBuildArtifactsPath(kUnittestPrivateKeyPath)});
 
   // Check the signature itself
   Signatures signatures;
-  EXPECT_TRUE(
-      signatures.ParseFromArray(signature_blob.data(), signature_blob.size()));
+  EXPECT_TRUE(signatures.ParseFromString(signature));
   EXPECT_EQ(1, signatures.signatures_size());
-  const Signatures_Signature& signature = signatures.signatures(0);
-  EXPECT_EQ(1U, signature.version());
-  const string& sig_data = signature.data();
+  const Signatures::Signature& sig = signatures.signatures(0);
+  EXPECT_EQ(1U, sig.version());
+  const string& sig_data = sig.data();
   ASSERT_EQ(arraysize(kDataSignature), sig_data.size());
   for (size_t i = 0; i < arraysize(kDataSignature); i++) {
     EXPECT_EQ(kDataSignature[i], static_cast<uint8_t>(sig_data[i]));
@@ -131,8 +126,8 @@
 }
 
 TEST_F(PayloadSignerTest, VerifyAllSignatureTest) {
-  brillo::Blob signature_blob;
-  SignSampleData(&signature_blob,
+  string signature;
+  SignSampleData(&signature,
                  {GetBuildArtifactsPath(kUnittestPrivateKeyPath),
                   GetBuildArtifactsPath(kUnittestPrivateKey2Path)});
 
@@ -141,28 +136,27 @@
   EXPECT_TRUE(utils::ReadFile(GetBuildArtifactsPath(kUnittestPublicKeyPath),
                               &public_key));
   EXPECT_TRUE(PayloadVerifier::VerifySignature(
-      signature_blob, public_key, padded_hash_data_));
+      signature, public_key, padded_hash_data_));
   EXPECT_TRUE(utils::ReadFile(GetBuildArtifactsPath(kUnittestPublicKey2Path),
                               &public_key));
   EXPECT_TRUE(PayloadVerifier::VerifySignature(
-      signature_blob, public_key, padded_hash_data_));
+      signature, public_key, padded_hash_data_));
 }
 
 TEST_F(PayloadSignerTest, VerifySignatureTest) {
-  brillo::Blob signature_blob;
-  SignSampleData(&signature_blob,
-                 {GetBuildArtifactsPath(kUnittestPrivateKeyPath)});
+  string signature;
+  SignSampleData(&signature, {GetBuildArtifactsPath(kUnittestPrivateKeyPath)});
 
   string public_key;
   EXPECT_TRUE(utils::ReadFile(GetBuildArtifactsPath(kUnittestPublicKeyPath),
                               &public_key));
   EXPECT_TRUE(PayloadVerifier::VerifySignature(
-      signature_blob, public_key, padded_hash_data_));
+      signature, public_key, padded_hash_data_));
   // Passing the invalid key should fail the verification.
   EXPECT_TRUE(utils::ReadFile(GetBuildArtifactsPath(kUnittestPublicKey2Path),
                               &public_key));
   EXPECT_TRUE(PayloadVerifier::VerifySignature(
-      signature_blob, public_key, padded_hash_data_));
+      signature, public_key, padded_hash_data_));
 }
 
 TEST_F(PayloadSignerTest, SkipMetadataSignatureTest) {