What is a digital ID?
A digital ID is like an electronic driver’s license or passport that proves your identity. A digital ID usually contains your name and email address, the name of the organization that issued it, a serial number, and an expiration date. Digital IDs are used for certificate security and digital signatures.
Digital IDs contain two keys: the public key locks, or encrypts data; the private key unlocks or decrypts that data. When you sign PDFs, you use the private key to apply your digital signature. The public key is in a certificate that you distribute to others. For example, you can send the certificate to those who want to validate your signature or identity. Store your digital ID in a safe place, because it contains your private key that others can use to decrypt your information.
Why do I need one?
You need a digital ID to sign a document or encrypt PDFs through a certificate.
What are 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.
Obtain a Signed Certificate from a Windows Domain CA
- Open the Run window. A fast way to launch this window is to press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard. Then type certmgr.msc and press Enter.
- In this window, expand the Certificates (Current User) node and click right on the Personal folder. And select the All Task > Request New Certificate.
- In the new window, click next and Select the types of certificates that you want to request (User) and
click Enroll.
- Click Finish.
The new signed certificate is added to the Personal > Certificates folder in the Windows Certificate Store.
Create a digital ID
- In Acrobat, click the Tools and from Forms & Signatures choose Certificates and click Add.
- To sign the document, from the right panel, select Certificates and click Digitally Sign.
- In the next page select your name and click Continue.
- Sign and save your file.