Software

Introduction

Applies to Adobe Reader 11 & Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

Digital signatures are a legally binding way to affirm your agreement to PDF documents. They can include your name, your organization information, your email address, and the date and reason you signed the document. Typically, a digital signature consists of a handwritten signature saved as an image.  The Place Signature function in a PDF, is limited as anyone can reproduce the signature image and there is no way to verify its authenticity.

A digital ID is like an electronic passport that proves your identity. A digital ID contains your name and email address, the name of the organization that issued it, a serial number, and an expiration date. Many business transactions, including financial, legal, and other regulated transactions, require high assurance when signing documents. Unlike digital signatures, a digital ID ensures recipients:

• Verify document authenticity—confirming the identity of each person who signed the document
• Verify document integrity—confirming that the document has not been altered in transit

Procedure

1. Open Adobe Reader.
2. Select Edit from the menu bar and open Preferences.
3. Select Signatures from the list of categories on the left in the new window.
4. Select Identities & Trusted Certificates and click More.
5. Select Digital IDs on the left, and then click the Add ID button.
6. Select the option A New Digital ID I Want To Create Now, and click Next.
7. Specify New PKCS#12 Digital ID File and click Next.
8. Type a name, email address, and other personal information for your digital ID and click Next.
9. Choose 1024-bit RSA.
10. From the Use Digital ID For menu, choose whether you want to use the digital ID for signatures and click Next.
11. Click Browse and navigate to a folder in which to save the Digital ID – ensure you note the location.
12. Type a password for the digital ID file. Upon completion reconfirm your password.
13. Click Finish.

Introduction

This page provides instructions on how to export and distribute a Digital-ID signature.

Applies to Adobe Reader 11 & Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

A digital ID is like an electronic passport that proves your identity. A digital ID contains your name and email address, the name of the organization that issued it, a serial number, and an expiration date.

Digital IDs are made up of two keys:

• The public key that locks, or encrypts, data.
• The private key that unlocks, or decrypts, that data.

When you sign PDF documents, the private key applies your digital signature. You distribute the certificate that contains your public key and other identifying information to those who need to validate your signature, verify your identity, or encrypt information for you. Only your private key can unlock information that was encrypted using your certificate, so be sure to store your digital ID in a safe place

• The public key can be shared via email (contact card) or via Adobe Reader.
• The private key cannot be shared, save the Digital-ID file in a secure, private location.

Procedure

1. Open Adobe Reader.
2. Select Edit from the menu bar and open Preferences.
3. Select Signatures from the list of categories on the left in the new window.
4. Select Identities & Trusted Certificates and click More.
5. Select Digital IDs on the left, and click on your Digital-ID.
6. Click Export from the menu bar above the Digital-ID list.
7. Select Save the data to a file from the Export Options section of the new window.
8. Click Browse and navigate to a folder in which to save the Digital ID – ensure you note the location.

Introduction

This page explains how to sign a PDF document with a Digital-ID.

Applies to Adobe Reader 11 & Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

Digital signatures are a legally binding way to affirm your agreement to PDF documents. You don’t need to print out and sign a document. Unlike traditional signatures, digital signatures can contain additional information, such as the date and time of signature and the reason for signing.

Procedure

1. Open Adobe Reader.
2. Select View from the menu bar and Fill & Sign.
3. Select Fill & Sign Tools from the list of expandable categories on the right sidebar.
4. Click Place Signature and click the signature form or draw a box within the PDF (left click and drag).
5. Enter the password for the digital ID file.
6. Click Sign.

Introduction

This page explains how to change the appearance of your Digital-ID signature.

Applies to Adobe Reader 11 & Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

Digital signatures are a legally binding way to affirm your agreement to PDF documents. You don’t need to print out and sign a document. Unlike traditional signatures, digital signatures can contain additional information, such as the date and time of signature and the reason for signing.

Your signature customized the newly created appearance will appear in the PDF document.  This appearance will be saved so that next time you want to sign a document using a digital signature, you can use the one you customized with your scanned signature.

Procedure

1. Open Adobe Reader.
2. Select Edit from the menu bar and open Preferences.
3. Select Signatures from the list of categories on the left in the new window.
4. Select Creation & Appearance and click More.
5. In the Creation & Appearance Preferences click on the New button.
6. Enter a Title for the newly created Appearance.
7. In the Configure Graphic section, click Imported Graphic and then click File to navigate to the folder where you saved your scanned signature(this must be a .pdf file for Adobe Reader).
8. In the Configure Text section, choose to include or exclude any of the fields by checking or unchecking the corresponding box.
9. Text Properties, you want to select Auto. 
10. Click the OK button.

Introduction

This page explains the process of verifying a PDF signed with Digital-ID.

Applies to Adobe Reader 11 & Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

A digital ID is like an electronic passport that proves your identity. A digital ID contains your name and email address, the name of the organization that issued it, a serial number, and an expiration date. Many business transactions, including financial, legal, and other regulated transactions, require high assurance when signing documents. Unlike digital signatures, a digital ID ensures recipients:

• Verify document authenticity—confirming the identity of each person who signed the document
• Verify document integrity—confirming that the document has not been altered in transit

The recipient needs the public certificate (key) to match against the private key data used to sign the document. This public certificate (key) is sent or requested, in a simpler self-sign workflow, via email as an FDF file. A self-signed certificates not included on Adobe Trusted Identities, the signature is considered “not trusted” (but NOT invalid). You can add the public key for individuals your trust, to verify the authenticity of the signatory in the future.

Introduction

Have you changed the password to your Western Identity? The password must be updated on all devices to ensure continuous access to resources and services associated with the Western University's network.

Note:   If your device is not listed below you can contact the Helpdesk for assistance.

Mobile

Safari - iOS
Chrome

Mac

Safari
Firefox

Windows

Windows Desktop
Firefox
Google Chrome
Internet Explorer
Microsoft Edge

Password Management

Security starts with you, the user. Keeping written lists of passwords on scraps of paper, or in a text document on your desktop is unsafe and is easily viewed by prying eyes (both cyber-based and human). Using the same password over and over again across a wide spectrum of systems and web sites creates the nightmare scenario where once someone has figured out one password, they have figured out all your passwords and now have access to every part of your life (system, email, retail, financial, work)

Recommendations

Manage your passwords by using "Password Safe" (https://pwsafe.org/). It allows you to safely and easily create a secured and encrypted user ID/password list. With Password Safe all you have to do is create and remember a single "Master Password" of your choice in order to unlock and access your entire user name/password list.

For the Mac User, manage your passwords using "1Password" (https://agilebits.com/onepassword). 1Password can create strong, unique passwords for you, remember them, and restore them, all directly in your web browser.

Introduction

Manage your passwords by using "Password Safe" (https://pwsafe.org/). It allows you to safely and easily create a secured and encrypted user ID/password list. With Password Safe all you have to do is create and remember a single "Master Password" of your choice in order to unlock and access your entire user ID/password list.

Windows

Windows Desktop

For the Mac User, manage your passwords using "1Password" (https://agilebits.com/onepassword). 1Password can create strong, unique passwords for you, remember them, and restore them, all directly in your web browser.