Create a self-signed digital id – Adobe Acrobat XI User Manual
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Security
Last updated 1/14/2015
You can get a digital ID from a third-party provider, or you can create a self-signed digital ID.
Self-signed digital IDs
Self-signed digital IDs can be adequate for personal use or small-to-medium businesses. Their use should be limited to
parties that have established mutual trust.
IDs from certificate authorities
Most business transactions require a digital ID from a trusted third-party provider, called a certificate authority.
Because the certificate authority is responsible for verifying your identity to others, choose one that is trusted by major
companies doing business on the Internet. The Adobe website gives the names of Adobe security partners that offer
digital IDs and other security solutions. See
.
Create a self-signed digital ID
Sensitive transactions between businesses generally require an ID from a certificate authority rather than a self-signed
one.
1
In Preferences choose Signatures.
2
Select Identities & Trusted Certificates and click More.
3
Select Digital IDs on the left, and then click the Add ID button
.
4
Select the option A New Digital ID I Want To Create Now, and click Next.
5
Specify where to store the digital ID, and click Next.
New PKCS#12 Digital ID File
Stores the digital ID information in a file, which has the extension .pfx in Windows and
.p12 in Mac OS. You can use the files interchangeably between operating systems. If you move a file from one
operating system to another, Acrobat still recognizes it.
Windows Certificate Store (Windows only)
Stores the digital ID to a common location from where other Windows
applications can also retrieve it.
6
Type a name, email address, and other personal information for your digital ID. When you certify or sign a
document, the name appears in the Signatures panel and in the Signature field.
7
Choose an option from the Key Algorithm menu. The 2048-bit RSA option offers more security than 1024-bit RSA,
but 1024-bit RSA is more universally compatible.
8
From the Use Digital ID For menu, choose whether you want to use the digital ID for signatures, data encryption,
or both.
9
Type a password for the digital ID file. For each keystroke, the password strength meter evaluates your password
and indicates the password strength using color patterns. Reconfirm your password.
You can export and send your certificate file to contacts who can use it to validate your signature.
Note: Make a backup copy of your digital ID file. If your digital ID file is lost or corrupted, or if you forget your password,
you cannot use that profile to add signatures.