Adobe Acrobat Reader and digital certificates

[Kloofvreter]

I am trying to figure out how to properly use digital certificates to digitally sign PDF documents. Note, you are allowed to point and laugh, this is new to me and I have not had much time to research it. I will do so after posting here also. From what I have noticed, I can create a certificate in Acrobat Reader XI, and add it to a document before passing it to someone else. But I can also create one in someone else's name, making it look like it came from that person. These certificates need to be signed by some authority.

Am I thinking in the right direction? What is my next step?

 

[sajunky]

Not, these are so called root certificates. You can always create self-signed certificate. It will allow third party to find out if certificate in the current document matches your previous documents. Not an absolute identity, but relative (sort of in simple terms).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-signed_certificate

 

[Kloofvreter]

Thanks, I have since realized that, and decided that certificates is not the way to go in this situation.

 

[sajunky]

Do not underestimate self-signing certificates. They identify you in digital world, it is your ID and nobody can create fake documents which look identically like yours. I have used PGP to sign Emails on the original PC-AT. Adobe might push you to sign for money, I don't know. If it is a case, you can always attach self-signed certificate inside a zip file.