HK Post adds TrustSign | South China Morning Post

Hongkong Post and a group of technology firms on Tuesday released a new application designed to add digital signature authentication to Adobe's portable document format (PDF) files.

The software, TrustSign for Adobe Acrobat, was developed by the post office with Adobe Systems, IBM, Trend Micro and Versitech.

Digital certificates from files and hardware devices such as smart ID cards or hardware tokens can be used to sign the documents. Once signed, the documents are said to be tamper-proof.

Adobe Systems business development manager Sam Chan said it was an easy and secure way to send documents.

'TrustSign for Adobe Acrobat 5.0 provides a convenient way for users to manage certificates, sign documents and verify signatures, allowing enterprises to authenticate PDF documents securely rather than relying on the current out-dated authentication methods such as passwords that can be easily accessed by unauthorised personnel,' he said.

Hongkong Post's electronic services division senior manager Michael Chung Man-kit said Hongkong Post was keen to be seen as a leader in the creation of digital signatures in the SAR.

'Hongkong Post's involvement in this innovative product is part of our strategy to provide digital signatures that address the different and complex requirements of individuals and businesses for conducting secure transactions over the Internet,' he said.

He said TrustSign could help overcome issues concerning the authentication of key documents such as tenders, contracts, or accounting information, allowing confidential information to be verified at source with a digital certificate.

The TrustSign package, which costs HK$780, is bundled with IBM Lotus QuickPlace, a Web-based tool for collaboration over the Internet or intranets. Signed documents are uploaded to a QuickPlace server via the Internet or stored on a local network.

TrustSign allows people who have access to the signed documents to verify the signatures.

Versitech managing director Victor Li said his company wanted to help make e-government and e-business possible. 'The development of TrustSign is one of our initiatives to support the e-government activities based on digital certificates. This product is intended for people in Hong Kong and China who need to read and verify the authenticity of signed PDF documents.'

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