Section 28. Create a Digital ID

28. Create a Digital ID

See Also

29 Delete a Digital ID

30 Add a Digital ID Signature

Electronic signatures have become even more popular and secure since e-Sign legislation was passed in 2000. Digital signatures are a great solution for paperless document reviewing. A digital signature not only validates the PDF, but also validates with Acrobat the identity of the person signing it. You can also digitally certify a document, which lets you know whether a document has been altered or tampered with.

Use Acrobat's digital ID to create and verify your signature.

1.	Create a Digital ID Select Advanced , Security Settings . This launches the Security Settings dialog box. From this dialog box, click the Add ID button to add a digital ID. The Add Digital ID assistant appears, helping you through the steps to add a digital ID. Select Create a Self-Signed Digital ID . By creating a self-signed digital ID, you are the only one certified to use this ID. Click the Next button to bring up an information screen that informs you that you are about to create a digital ID. Click the Next button to go to the next screen.
2.	Select an ID Storage Option Specify how you want to store your digital ID file by selecting one of the following options: New PKCS#12 Digital ID File Stores your digital ID in the standard PKCS#12 encryption format. Windows Certificate Store Stores your digital ID in the Windows Certificate Store, so it is then available for use with other Windows applications. Click the Next button to proceed to the next screen.
3.	Input Identifying Information Type your name, organizational unit, organization name , email address, and country/region into the appropriate fields. You can select Enable Unicode Support if applicable . Select a key algorithm. The 1024-bit RSA option is more compatible but less secure than 2048-bit RSA . Select one of the following for the Use Digital ID for option: Digital Signatures, Data Encryption , and Digital Signatures and Data Encryption . Click the Next button to proceed to the next screen.
4.	Enter Your Password Accept the default filename and location, or browse to the location where you want to save your digital ID. Enter a password for your new digital ID in both the Password and Confirm Password text boxes.
5.	Complete Your Digital ID In the assistant, click the Finish button to complete the creation of your new digital ID. The information then appears in the Security Settings dialog box.

TIP

Other options with digital IDs are to save the data information or email the information to someone else. Exporting your digital ID as a file and then emailing it to someone allows the recipient to encrypt documents for you and validate signatures you have created. To do this, select the digital ID and click the Export Certificate button in the Security Settings dialog box