Adobe 22002486 Digital Signature User Guide - Page 111

What is a timestamp?, How Do I Validate a Timestamp in a Signature?

Page 111 highlights

Acrobat 9 Family of Products Security Feature User Guide Validating Signatures Validating Signature Timestamps 111 What is a timestamp? A timestamp is like a signature inside of a signature. Like signatures, timestamps are provided by someone (a timestamp authority) who uses a certificate to confirm their identity. A timestamp's certificate must be valid (not revoked by the issuer) and trusted (by you) for the timestamp to be valid. Timestamp certificate status appears in the Date/Time and Summary tabs of the Signature Property dialog:  Untrusted timestamp certificates appear as follows: Figure 79 Timestamps: Untrusted stamp  Trusted timestamps that have been added to the Trusted Identities list and have been explicitly trusted for signing appear as follows: Figure 80 Timestamps: Trusted stamp How Do I Validate a Timestamp in a Signature? Validating a timestamp is the process by which you check to see if the timestamp was applied and that its certificate is valid. In order to validate a timestamp, you need to manually verify:  The timestamp was applied: If a timestamp fails for some reason (the server cannot be found, the network is down, etc.), timestamping fails silently.  The timestamp certificate is trusted: If a timestamp was applied, the certificate must be trusted by adding to your trusted identities list. To verify that a signature has been properly timestamped: 1. Display the Signature Properties dialog by right clicking on any signature in the document or the Signatures tab and choosing Show Signature Properties. 2. Choose the Date/Time tab. Timestamp status is indicated by the icon and associated text:  Warning triangle: Timestamping failed or a timestamp is not present and the local time is used. Verify the signer used a timestamp.  Magnifying glass: A timestamp may have been used but you have not yet trusted the timestamp certificate. Proceed to the next step.  Clock: A timestamp with a trusted certificate was used. Figure 81 Timestamps: Date/Time tab

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Acrobat 9 Family of Products
Validating Signatures
Security Feature User Guide
Validating Signature Timestamps
111
What is a timestamp?
A timestamp is like a signature inside of a signature. Like signatures, timestamps are provided by someone
(a timestamp authority) who uses a certificate to confirm their identity. A timestamp’s certificate must be
valid (not revoked by the issuer) and trusted (by you) for the timestamp to be valid. Timestamp certificate
status appears in the Date/Time and Summary tabs of the Signature Property dialog:
Untrusted timestamp certificates appear as follows:
Figure 79
Timestamps: Untrusted stamp
Trusted timestamps that have been added to the Trusted Identities list and have been explicitly trusted
for signing appear as follows:
Figure 80
Timestamps: Trusted stamp
How Do I Validate a Timestamp in a Signature?
Validating a timestamp is the process by which you check to see if the timestamp was applied and that its
certificate is valid. In order to validate a timestamp, you need to manually verify:
The timestamp was applied
: If a timestamp fails for some reason (the server cannot be found, the
network is down, etc.), timestamping fails silently.
The timestamp certificate is trusted
: If a timestamp was applied, the certificate must be trusted by
adding to your trusted identities list.
To verify that a signature has been properly timestamped:
1.
Display the Signature Properties dialog by right clicking on any signature in the document or the
Signatures tab and choosing
Show Signature Properties
.
2.
Choose the Date/Time tab. Timestamp status is indicated by the icon and associated text:
Warning triangle
: Timestamping failed or a timestamp is not present and the local time is used.
Verify the signer used a timestamp.
Magnifying glass
: A timestamp may have been used but you have not yet trusted the timestamp
certificate. Proceed to the next step.
Clock
: A timestamp with a trusted certificate was used.
Figure 81
Timestamps: Date/Time tab