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Authenticated Content Signing for Symbian
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FAQs
Why should I choose VeriSign
ACS?
VeriSign ACS offers you a cost-effective, fully
automated, online and highly secure content signing service for Windows
Mobile Smartphone and Symbian applications from the leader in content
signing services.
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What is an ACS Publisher ID?
The ACS Publisher ID is the digital certificate
you receive when you enroll for the ACS service. Your Publisher ID has
two uses:
- To sign your application
files
- To access the ACS
Account Manager (a.k.a SAM) to re-sign your files, purchase additional
signing events, and access a host of other features that the ACS service
offers.
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What is an ACS Content ID?
The ACS Content ID is generated by VeriSign
to "re-sign" your signed files after VeriSign verifies your
digital signature. This certificate is based on the private root associated
with either the platform or the carrier you are signing your applications
for.
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Why do I need to get 2 different
certificates?
The ACS Publisher ID is the developer-signing
certificate and is used to sign code prior to uploading the code to
VeriSign for "re-signing". ACS Content ID certificates are
generated when you get your signed code "re-signed" by VeriSign.
When you upload signed code to VeriSign, we check the validity of the
signature in real time, strip off this signature and re-sign using a
Content ID certificate that (a) carries application specific information
(b) chains up to the private root CA associated with the platform or
carrier you are signing your applications for. The Content ID is unique
to each piece of content and is the only signature that will be trusted
on the end-user device for secure downloading and execution.
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How long will it take to get
my application signed?
If you are a first time ACS customer, you first
need to obtain an ACS Publisher ID certificate. Use your Publisher ID
to sign your code and then upload it to SAM. The Web-based service re-signs
your code and makes it available for download within a few seconds.
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What constitutes a "signing
event"?
A signing event involves the generation of
a single-use ACS Content ID digital certificate that chains up to the
private root associated with the platform or carrier you are signing
your applications for. For example, if you have a Windows Mobile Smartphone
applications which consists of 1 cab file containing 1 exe and 1 dll
file, signing your application constitutes 3 signing events: 1 each
for the dll, exe, and the cab file. Note that this may be different
for other platforms that VeriSign ACS supports.
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What do I do if I run out of
signing events?
If you have a valid Publisher ID certificate
and you run out of ACS Content IDs (signing events), log in to the ACS
Account Manager and purchase additional ACS Content ID bundles (signing
event bundles).
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What kind of files do I need
to get signed?
Microsoft specifies that you need to sign your
dll, exe, and cab files. Symbian specifies that you need to sign your
SIS file.
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How do I sign code using my
Publisher ID certificate?
When you sign up for the ACS service, depending
on the product you are buying (ACS Publisher ID with or without Smartcard)
your Publisher ID certificate is installed into the browser certificate
store or on the USB token provided to you.
For Windows Mobile Smartphone applications: You can access
your certificate and sign your code using the standard Microsoft File
Signing Tool, "signcode.exe." However, VeriSign ACS for Smartphone
also offers a unique feature that allows you to automatically sign your
code in the ACS Account Manager.
For native Symbian applications: You need to download the Symbian
Key Export Utility software available on the VeriSign ACS for Symbian
website and export the key and cert into a format that MakeSIS can use.
Once you complete this step, follow instructions provided with the Symbian
MakeSIS tool to sign your SIS files.
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What do I do if I lose my USB
token with my Publisher ID on it (only for ACS Publisher ID with Smartcard)?
Your token and Publisher ID cannot be replaced.
If your USB token is lost, there is a potential compromise of your private
key. You must revoke your Publisher ID and enroll for a new Publisher
ID.
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What do I do if I lose the
token password (only for ACS Publisher ID with Smartcard)?
Your token password cannot be recovered or
replaced. Keep your token password in a secure place in case you need
to refer to it. If you forget or lose the token password, you will not
be able to access your Publisher ID. You must revoke your Publisher
ID and enroll for a new Publisher ID.
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What do I do if I delete the
ACS Publisher ID approval e-mail with my PIN number?
Please call VeriSign Customer Support at 1-877-GET-VRSN
and we will send you your PIN number after we verify your identity.
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I have received an ACS Publisher
ID approval e-mail from VeriSign - what do I do next?
For ACS Publisher ID without Smartcard, you
can click on the "pick up" link provided in the e-mail, use
the PIN number and proceed to install the certificate directly into
your browser.
For ACS Publisher IDs with Smartcards, please
wait to get your blank USB token in the mail. Follow instructions provided
with the token to install the token software. Then follow the link in
the approval e-mail to pick up and install your ACS Publisher ID on
the token.
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