Signing an application with a digital certificate – Adobe Dreamweaver CC 2014 v.13 User Manual
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Signing an application with a digital certificate
A digital signature provides an assurance that the code for an application has not been altered or corrupted since its creation by the software
author. All Adobe AIR applications require a digital signature, and can’t be installed without one. You can sign your application with a purchased
digital certificate, create your own certificate, or prepare an Adobe AIRI file (an Adobe AIR intermediate file) that you’ll sign at a later time.
1. In the AIR Application and Installer Settings dialog box, click the Set button next to the Digital Signature option.
2. In the Digital Signature dialog box, do one of the following:
To sign an application with a pre-purchased digital certificate, click the Browse button, select the certificate, enter the corresponding
password, and click OK.
To create your own self-signed digital certificate, click the Create button and complete the dialog box. The certificate Type option refers
to the level of security: 1024-RSA uses a 1024-bit key (less secure), and 2048-RSA uses a 2048-bit key (more secure). When you’re
finished click OK. Then enter the corresponding password in the Digital Signature dialog box and click OK.
Select Prepare an AIRI package that will be signed later and click OK. This option lets you create an AIR Intermediate (AIRI) application
without a digital signature. A user is not able to install the application, however, until you add a digital signature.
About Timestamping
When you sign an Adobe AIR application with a digital certificate, the packaging tool queries the server of a timestamp authority to obtain an
independently verifiable date and time of signing. The timestamp obtained is embedded in the AIR file. As long as the signing certificate is valid at
the time of signing, the AIR file can be installed, even after the certificate has expired. On the other hand, if no timestamp is obtained, the AIR file
ceases to be installable when the certificate expires or is revoked.
By default, the Adobe AIR Extension for Dreamweaver obtains a timestamp when creating an Adobe AIR application. You can, however, turn
timestamping off by deselecting the Timestamp option in the Digital Signature dialog box. (You might want to do this, for example, if a
timestamping service is unavailable.) Adobe recommends that all publically distributed AIR files include a timestamp.
The default timestamp authority used by the AIR packaging tools is Geotrust. For more information on timestamping and digital certificates, see
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