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Protecting your identity
Protecting your freedom
in a connected world
Keynectis
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Learn about vision & mission of Keynectis on video
What's new?
KEYNECTIS launches K.Access®, a strong authentication solution which is user friendly and does not require any deployment.
Questions concerning the K.Sign® for PDF offer :
> View most frequently asked questions
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The signature can be verified by almost any PC user. Standard Adobe® Reader® software, which is used to verify signatures, is installed on practically all personal computers.
It can also be downloaded free of charge Adobe® Reader® 9 
Depending on your version of Adobe® Reader® or Acrobat (Versions 7, 8, 9), the information regarding signature validity can vary but is generally displayed as a message with an icon and an explanation in the language of your Adobe® product.
By default, when you open a signed PDF document, signature status is displayed on a colored banner at the top of the document along with one of the following icons indicating the digital signature's validity status:
| Valid approval signature | Valid certification signature | Invalid signer identity | Invalid signature |
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You can use the K.Sign® for PDF key with Acrobat products and any of the following operating systems :
If you would like to receive further information about Linux uses, please complete the "Find out more" form.
To use K.Sign® for PDF, you must have an Acrobat signature software (Standard, Professional or Extended), Version 7.0 or later.
You can also use Adobe® Reader® (Version 7 or later) to sign PDF files created with Reader Extension rights.
K.Sign® for PDF requires the installation of a Gemalto Classic TPC IM CC (EAL4+) cryptographic smart card, installed in any of the following environments:
The Acrobat Professional and Extended software products (Version 7 or later) can activate user rights in Adobe® Reader® (reader extension) with just one click in the "Advanced Options" menu.
©KEYNECTIS. All rights reserved.
The Gemalto Classic TPC IM CC (Common Criteria EAL4+) cryptographic card requires the installation of a driver that is provided with the K.Sign® for PDF key. This operation can be performed online from the KEYNECTIS website or through a customized procedure within your company.
The K.Sign® for PDF key lifecycle is one, two or three years, depending on your needs. We recommend using three-year keys, which can be reallocated if there is a change of holder within the first two years following the initial issuance.
After your order is placed and identity verified, you will receive a key that you can initialize simply by selecting a PIN code and a personal unblocking key (PUK).
If you lose your USB key, you can revoke yourself by going to our revocation portal, where you will be asked to enter the revocation code you chose when the key was issued. If you are unable to perform this operation yourself, contact KEYNECTIS, who will revoke the key.
The guarantees and services associated with the purchase and use of K.Sign® for PDF keys, provided that Adobe® Acrobat, Adobe® Reader® or Adobe® LiveCycle® signature software is being used, are specified in the general terms of sale.
Only four providers worldwide have been selected by Adobe® to participate in its CDS (Certified Document Service) program. This program allows providers to issue signature certificates that are automatically recognized by all Adobe® PDF readers. By automatically integrating timestamping information and all certificate verification components at the time of signing, K.Sign® enables signed PDF documents to seamlessly replace paper documents (long-term verification) while guaranteeing the same legal validity (in France). The fact that users can view signed PDF documents with no installation pre-requisites or complicated instructions makes K.Sign® the ideal solution for exchanging electronic documents, whether within or outside your company, and the return on investment can be easily calculated.
A three-year K.Sign® for PDF key can be reallocated at any time during the first two years following the initial issuance.
A technical contact within your company is assigned to liaise with KEYNECTIS. This person can access your company's customer account on the Web portal at any time, and is authorized to declare and verify K.Sign® for PDF requests via procedures that are described in the Certificate Policy.
If you would like to receive further information about K.Signer® for PDF, please complete the "Find out more" form
Just like paper documents, in order for a digitally signed PDF document to become legally binding, it must include a secure timestamp and strong verification of identity (notarization) by the certificate issuer at the time of signing. These two services must be performed by a trusted third party: KEYNECTIS.
No. A PDF document signed with K.Sign does not require that the software or person wishing to validate the signature be connected. The CDS signature creates a freestanding document with long-term validation thanks to the OCSP timestamping functions used.
Yes: At the time of signing, the user must be connected to the Internet so the KEYNECTIS timestamping and validation servers can be called automatically.
Adobe® defined two types of digital signature that can be applied to a PDF document : certification signatures and approval signatures.
Certification signatures, also called author signatures, enable the author of a PDF document to sign the document and authorize the subsequent modification of certain fields in the document (form). This process is frequently used for documents whose lifecycle requires several successive signatures (contracts, purchase orders). Certification signatures are only available with Acrobat (Standard, Professional and Extended) and Adobe® LiveCycle® software solutions. When a certified document is opened, the integrity of the document and all the signatures it contains is automatically verified, in order to notify the user of any changes in the document's level of trust. Certification signatures are the ideal solution when creating documents with multiple signatures where modifiable fields are checked at every signature level.
Example: A government agency creates a form with signature fields. The agency certifies the document (using K.Sign® for PDF for legal entities), enabling users to modify only the form's fields and to sign the document. Users can fill out the form and sign it with K.Sign® for PDF, but if they delete pages or add comments, the document loses its certified status. Certification signatures are also known as MDP signatures (Modification Detection and Prevention).
Approval signatures can be applied using Adobe® Acrobat, Adobe® Reader® or Adobe® LiveCycle®. If applied using Adobe® Reader®, they require a field in the form with extended properties. Approval signatures do not generate verification information when the document is opened.
Example: A user fills out a company form then signs it using K.Sign® for PDF to approve the data provided.
