diff --git a/builder/amazon/common/access_config.go b/builder/amazon/common/access_config.go
index 5e11fcd32..1fd66d091 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/common/access_config.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/common/access_config.go
@@ -115,5 +115,5 @@ func GetInstanceMetaData(path string) (contents []byte, err error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
-	return []byte(body), err
+	return body, err
 }
diff --git a/builder/amazon/common/state.go b/builder/amazon/common/state.go
index e529f0c5f..42beb0e00 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/common/state.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/common/state.go
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func WaitForState(conf *StateChangeConf) (i interface{}, err error) {
 	log.Printf("Waiting for state to become: %s", conf.Target)
 
 	sleepSeconds := SleepSeconds()
-	maxTicks := int(TimeoutSeconds()/sleepSeconds) + 1
+	maxTicks := TimeoutSeconds()/sleepSeconds + 1
 	notfoundTick := 0
 
 	for {
diff --git a/builder/azure/common/gluestrings.go b/builder/azure/common/gluestrings.go
index 0988b98a9..b59b15fcf 100644
--- a/builder/azure/common/gluestrings.go
+++ b/builder/azure/common/gluestrings.go
@@ -18,5 +18,5 @@ func GlueStrings(a, b string) string {
 		shift++
 	}
 
-	return string(a[:shift]) + b
+	return a[:shift] + b
 }
diff --git a/builder/cloudstack/ssh.go b/builder/cloudstack/ssh.go
index 1deabc9f6..b980102f4 100644
--- a/builder/cloudstack/ssh.go
+++ b/builder/cloudstack/ssh.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func sshConfig(state multistep.StateBag) (*ssh.ClientConfig, error) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Error loading configured private key file: %s", err)
 		}
 
-		signer, err := ssh.ParsePrivateKey([]byte(privateKey))
+		signer, err := ssh.ParsePrivateKey(privateKey)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Error setting up SSH config: %s", err)
 		}
diff --git a/builder/digitalocean/step_create_droplet.go b/builder/digitalocean/step_create_droplet.go
index acd9fd771..0a214199a 100644
--- a/builder/digitalocean/step_create_droplet.go
+++ b/builder/digitalocean/step_create_droplet.go
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@ package digitalocean
 import (
 	"fmt"
 
+	"io/ioutil"
+
 	"github.com/digitalocean/godo"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
-	"io/ioutil"
 )
 
 type stepCreateDroplet struct {
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ func (s *stepCreateDroplet) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 			Slug: c.Image,
 		},
 		SSHKeys: []godo.DropletCreateSSHKey{
-			{ID: int(sshKeyId)},
+			{ID: sshKeyId},
 		},
 		PrivateNetworking: c.PrivateNetworking,
 		UserData:          userData,
diff --git a/builder/hyperv/common/driver_ps_4.go b/builder/hyperv/common/driver_ps_4.go
index ae125259a..e563f89ea 100644
--- a/builder/hyperv/common/driver_ps_4.go
+++ b/builder/hyperv/common/driver_ps_4.go
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ func (d *HypervPS4Driver) verifyPSVersion() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	versionOutput := strings.TrimSpace(string(cmdOut))
+	versionOutput := strings.TrimSpace(cmdOut)
 	log.Printf("%s output: %s", versionCmd, versionOutput)
 
 	ver, err := strconv.ParseInt(versionOutput, 10, 32)
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func (d *HypervPS4Driver) verifyPSHypervModule() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	res := strings.TrimSpace(string(cmdOut))
+	res := strings.TrimSpace(cmdOut)
 
 	if res == "False" {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("%s", "PS Hyper-V module is not loaded. Make sure Hyper-V feature is on.")
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ func (d *HypervPS4Driver) verifyHypervPermissions() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	res := strings.TrimSpace(string(cmdOut))
+	res := strings.TrimSpace(cmdOut)
 
 	if res == "False" {
 		isAdmin, _ := powershell.IsCurrentUserAnAdministrator()
diff --git a/builder/hyperv/common/step_configure_ip.go b/builder/hyperv/common/step_configure_ip.go
index 90e17b238..330f784a0 100644
--- a/builder/hyperv/common/step_configure_ip.go
+++ b/builder/hyperv/common/step_configure_ip.go
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@ package common
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
-	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
 	"log"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
+
+	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
+	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
 )
 
 type StepConfigureIp struct {
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ func (s *StepConfigureIp) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 			return multistep.ActionHalt
 		}
 
-		ip = strings.TrimSpace(string(cmdOut))
+		ip = strings.TrimSpace(cmdOut)
 
 		if ip != "False" {
 			break
diff --git a/builder/triton/access_config.go b/builder/triton/access_config.go
index 05959e7b8..08deefdff 100644
--- a/builder/triton/access_config.go
+++ b/builder/triton/access_config.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func (c *AccessConfig) CreateTritonClient() (*cloudapi.Client, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	userauth, err := auth.NewAuth(c.Account, string(keyData), "rsa-sha256")
+	userauth, err := auth.NewAuth(c.Account, keyData, "rsa-sha256")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/common/ssh.go b/builder/virtualbox/common/ssh.go
index b4a05c549..0ad514be9 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/common/ssh.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/common/ssh.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ func CommHost(host string) func(multistep.StateBag) (string, error) {
 
 func SSHPort(state multistep.StateBag) (int, error) {
 	sshHostPort := state.Get("sshHostPort").(int)
-	return int(sshHostPort), nil
+	return sshHostPort, nil
 }
 
 func SSHConfigFunc(config SSHConfig) func(multistep.StateBag) (*gossh.ClientConfig, error) {
diff --git a/common/powershell/hyperv/hyperv.go b/common/powershell/hyperv/hyperv.go
index e57a98f0d..a674857b0 100644
--- a/common/powershell/hyperv/hyperv.go
+++ b/common/powershell/hyperv/hyperv.go
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ func GetExternalOnlineVirtualSwitch() (string, error) {
 
 	var script = `
 $adapters = Get-NetAdapter -Physical -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { $_.Status -eq 'Up' } | Sort-Object -Descending -Property Speed
-foreach ($adapter in $adapters) { 
+foreach ($adapter in $adapters) {
   $switch = Get-VMSwitch -SwitchType External | Where-Object { $_.NetAdapterInterfaceDescription -eq $adapter.InterfaceDescription }
 
   if ($switch -ne $null) {
@@ -605,10 +605,10 @@ $adapters = foreach ($name in $names) {
   Get-NetAdapter -Physical -Name $name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | where status -eq 'up'
 }
 
-foreach ($adapter in $adapters) { 
+foreach ($adapter in $adapters) {
   $switch = Get-VMSwitch -SwitchType External | where { $_.NetAdapterInterfaceDescription -eq $adapter.InterfaceDescription }
 
-  if ($switch -eq $null) { 
+  if ($switch -eq $null) {
     $switch = New-VMSwitch -Name $switchName -NetAdapterName $adapter.Name -AllowManagementOS $true -Notes 'Parent OS, VMs, WiFi'
   }
 
@@ -617,9 +617,9 @@ foreach ($adapter in $adapters) {
   }
 }
 
-if($switch -ne $null) { 
-  Get-VMNetworkAdapter -VMName $vmName | Connect-VMNetworkAdapter -VMSwitch $switch 
-} else { 
+if($switch -ne $null) {
+  Get-VMNetworkAdapter -VMName $vmName | Connect-VMNetworkAdapter -VMSwitch $switch
+} else {
   Write-Error 'No internet adapters found'
 }
 `
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ $vm.Uptime.TotalSeconds
 		return 0, err
 	}
 
-	uptime, err := strconv.ParseUint(strings.TrimSpace(string(cmdOut)), 10, 64)
+	uptime, err := strconv.ParseUint(strings.TrimSpace(cmdOut), 10, 64)
 
 	return uptime, err
 }
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ func IpAddress(mac string) (string, error) {
 param([string]$mac, [int]$addressIndex)
 try {
   $ip = Get-Vm | %{$_.NetworkAdapters} | ?{$_.MacAddress -eq $mac} | %{$_.IpAddresses[$addressIndex]}
-	
+
   if($ip -eq $null) {
     return ""
   }
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ func TypeScanCodes(vmName string, scanCodes string) error {
 param([string]$vmName, [string]$scanCodes)
 	#Requires -Version 3
 	#Requires -RunAsAdministrator
-	
+
 	function Get-VMConsole
 	{
 	    [CmdletBinding()]
@@ -815,16 +815,16 @@ param([string]$vmName, [string]$scanCodes)
 	        [Parameter(Mandatory)]
 	        [string] $VMName
 	    )
-	
+
 	    $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
-	    
+
 	    $vm = Get-CimInstance -Namespace "root\virtualization\v2" -ClassName Msvm_ComputerSystem -ErrorAction Ignore -Verbose:$false | where ElementName -eq $VMName | select -first 1
 	    if ($vm -eq $null){
 	        Write-Error ("VirtualMachine({0}) is not found!" -f $VMName)
 	    }
-		
+
 	    $vmKeyboard = $vm | Get-CimAssociatedInstance -ResultClassName "Msvm_Keyboard" -ErrorAction Ignore -Verbose:$false
-		
+
 		if ($vmKeyboard -eq $null) {
 			$vmKeyboard = Get-CimInstance -Namespace "root\virtualization\v2" -ClassName Msvm_Keyboard -ErrorAction Ignore -Verbose:$false | where SystemName -eq $vm.Name | select -first 1
 		}
@@ -832,22 +832,22 @@ param([string]$vmName, [string]$scanCodes)
 		if ($vmKeyboard -eq $null) {
 			$vmKeyboard = Get-CimInstance -Namespace "root\virtualization" -ClassName Msvm_Keyboard -ErrorAction Ignore -Verbose:$false | where SystemName -eq $vm.Name | select -first 1
 		}
-		
+
 	    if ($vmKeyboard -eq $null){
 	        Write-Error ("VirtualMachine({0}) keyboard class is not found!" -f $VMName)
 	    }
-	
+
 	    #TODO: It may be better using New-Module -AsCustomObject to return console object?
-	
+
 	    #Console object to return
 	    $console = [pscustomobject] @{
 	        Msvm_ComputerSystem = $vm
 	        Msvm_Keyboard = $vmKeyboard
 	    }
-	
+
 	    #Need to import assembly to use System.Windows.Input.Key
 	    Add-Type -AssemblyName WindowsBase
-	
+
 	    #region Add Console Members
 	    $console | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptMethod -Name TypeText -Value {
 	        [OutputType([bool])]
@@ -859,13 +859,13 @@ param([string]$vmName, [string]$scanCodes)
 	        $result = $this.Msvm_Keyboard | Invoke-CimMethod -MethodName "TypeText" -Arguments @{ asciiText = $AsciiText }
 	        return (0 -eq $result.ReturnValue)
 	    }
-	
+
 	    #Define method:TypeCtrlAltDel
 	    $console | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptMethod -Name TypeCtrlAltDel -Value {
 	        $result = $this.Msvm_Keyboard | Invoke-CimMethod -MethodName "TypeCtrlAltDel"
 	        return (0 -eq $result.ReturnValue)
 	    }
-	
+
 	    #Define method:TypeKey
 	    $console | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptMethod -Name TypeKey -Value {
 	        [OutputType([bool])]
@@ -874,9 +874,9 @@ param([string]$vmName, [string]$scanCodes)
 	            [Windows.Input.Key] $Key,
 	            [Windows.Input.ModifierKeys] $ModifierKey = [Windows.Input.ModifierKeys]::None
 	        )
-	
+
 	        $keyCode = [Windows.Input.KeyInterop]::VirtualKeyFromKey($Key)
-	        
+
 	        switch ($ModifierKey)
 	        {
 	            ([Windows.Input.ModifierKeys]::Control){ $modifierKeyCode = [Windows.Input.KeyInterop]::VirtualKeyFromKey([Windows.Input.Key]::LeftCtrl)}
@@ -884,7 +884,7 @@ param([string]$vmName, [string]$scanCodes)
 	            ([Windows.Input.ModifierKeys]::Shift){ $modifierKeyCode = [Windows.Input.KeyInterop]::VirtualKeyFromKey([Windows.Input.Key]::LeftShift)}
 	            ([Windows.Input.ModifierKeys]::Windows){ $modifierKeyCode = [Windows.Input.KeyInterop]::VirtualKeyFromKey([Windows.Input.Key]::LWin)}
 	        }
-	
+
 	        if ($ModifierKey -eq [Windows.Input.ModifierKeys]::None)
 	        {
 	            $result = $this.Msvm_Keyboard | Invoke-CimMethod -MethodName "TypeKey" -Arguments @{ keyCode = $keyCode }
@@ -897,7 +897,7 @@ param([string]$vmName, [string]$scanCodes)
 	        }
 	        $result = return (0 -eq $result.ReturnValue)
 	    }
-	
+
 	    #Define method:Scancodes
 	    $console | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptMethod -Name TypeScancodes -Value {
 	        [OutputType([bool])]
@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@ param([string]$vmName, [string]$scanCodes)
 	        $result = $this.Msvm_Keyboard | Invoke-CimMethod -MethodName "TypeScancodes" -Arguments @{ ScanCodes = $ScanCodes }
 	        return (0 -eq $result.ReturnValue)
 	    }
-	
+
 	    #Define method:ExecCommand
 	    $console | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptMethod -Name ExecCommand -Value {
 	        param (
@@ -918,46 +918,46 @@ param([string]$vmName, [string]$scanCodes)
 	        if ([String]::IsNullOrEmpty($Command)){
 	            return
 	        }
-	
+
 	        $console.TypeText($Command) > $null
 	        $console.TypeKey([Windows.Input.Key]::Enter) > $null
 	        #sleep -Milliseconds 100
 	    }
-	
+
 	    #Define method:Dispose
 	    $console | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptMethod -Name Dispose -Value {
 	        $this.Msvm_ComputerSystem.Dispose()
 	        $this.Msvm_Keyboard.Dispose()
 	    }
-	    
-	
+
+
 	    #endregion
-	
+
 	    return $console
 	}
-	
+
 	$vmConsole = Get-VMConsole -VMName $vmName
 	$scanCodesToSend = ''
 	$scanCodes.Split(' ') | %{
 		$scanCode = $_
-			
+
 		if ($scanCode.StartsWith('wait')){
 			$timeToWait = $scanCode.Substring(4)
 			if (!$timeToWait){
 				$timeToWait = "1"
 			}
-						
+
 			if ($scanCodesToSend){
 				$scanCodesToSendByteArray = [byte[]]@($scanCodesToSend.Split(' ') | %{"0x$_"})
-				
+
                 $scanCodesToSendByteArray | %{
 				    $vmConsole.TypeScancodes($_)
                 }
 			}
-			
+
 			write-host "Special code <wait> found, will sleep $timeToWait second(s) at this point."
 			Start-Sleep -s $timeToWait
-			
+
 			$scanCodesToSend = ''
 		} else {
 			if ($scanCodesToSend){
@@ -971,7 +971,7 @@ param([string]$vmName, [string]$scanCodes)
 	}
 	if ($scanCodesToSend){
 		$scanCodesToSendByteArray = [byte[]]@($scanCodesToSend.Split(' ') | %{"0x$_"})
-		
+
         $scanCodesToSendByteArray | %{
 			$vmConsole.TypeScancodes($_)
         }
diff --git a/common/powershell/powershell.go b/common/powershell/powershell.go
index 423bcd857..83190d1a4 100644
--- a/common/powershell/powershell.go
+++ b/common/powershell/powershell.go
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ param([string]$moduleName)
 		return false, err
 	}
 
-	res := strings.TrimSpace(string(cmdOut))
+	res := strings.TrimSpace(cmdOut)
 
 	if res == powerShellFalse {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("PowerShell %s module is not loaded. Make sure %s feature is on.", moduleName, moduleName)
diff --git a/communicator/ssh/password.go b/communicator/ssh/password.go
index 8db6f82da..774be47f1 100644
--- a/communicator/ssh/password.go
+++ b/communicator/ssh/password.go
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 package ssh
 
 import (
-	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
 	"log"
+
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
 )
 
 // An implementation of ssh.KeyboardInteractiveChallenge that simply sends
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ func PasswordKeyboardInteractive(password string) ssh.KeyboardInteractiveChallen
 		// Just send the password back for all questions
 		answers := make([]string, len(questions))
 		for i := range answers {
-			answers[i] = string(password)
+			answers[i] = password
 		}
 
 		return answers, nil
diff --git a/provisioner/ansible/scp.go b/provisioner/ansible/scp.go
index 03a8fe526..b36b22590 100644
--- a/provisioner/ansible/scp.go
+++ b/provisioner/ansible/scp.go
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ func scpResponse(r *bufio.Reader) error {
 
 		// 1 is a warning. Anything higher (really just 2) is an error.
 		if code > 1 {
-			return errors.New(string(message))
+			return errors.New(message)
 		}
 
 		log.Println("WARNING:", err)