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.
