Apple Device Certificate Distribution

Questions and Answers

What are the two primary security goals accomplished by certificates?

Guaranteed Authentication and Encrypted Communications (correct)

Data Integrity and Access Control

Reduced Latency and Encryption Efficiency

User Privacy and System Performance

How can certificates be automatically distributed to Apple devices?

By third-party app installations

Through manual email attachments

Via HTTP requests to a secure server

Using MDM Payloads and Profiles (correct)

How does an OCSP-enabled certificate function in terms of validation?

It remains valid indefinitely unless revoked by users.

It is validated only once when it is issued.

It must be manually checked by users for every session.

It is periodically validated to check for revocation. (correct)

What occurs when a certificate's authenticity cannot be verified?

It is labeled as 'Untrusted' and users have the option to add it. Signup and view all the answers

Which method is correct for manually removing a certificate from a Mac device?

Use the Keychain Access app to select and delete the certificate. Signup and view all the answers

What can be the result of adding an unsigned certificate to a device?

It guarantees encrypted communications only. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Security Goals of Certificates

Certificates ensure Guaranteed Authentication and Encrypted Communications.

Manual Distribution of Certificates

Certificates can be shared via email attachments or through secure websites for download on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac).

Automatic Distribution of Certificates

Certificates can be automatically distributed using Mobile Device Management (MDM) payloads and profiles, exemplified by systems like Active Directory.

MDM Certificate Management

MDM solutions can monitor all certificates installed on a device and remove any that were deployed through the MDM system.

Certificate Validation

The Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) is utilized to check the validity status of certificates, ensuring they haven’t been revoked.
Devices running iOS, iPadOS, and macOS periodically validate OCSP-enabled certificates.

Handling Untrusted Certificates

Certificates that cannot be verified as authentic show up as ‘Untrusted’ (unsigned), allowing users to decide whether to install them.
Even with an unsigned certificate, communications between hosts remain encrypted despite lacking authentication assurance.

Manual Removal of Certificates

On Mac: Use Keychain Access app, select the certificate, and delete it.
On iPad/iOS: Navigate to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, select the profile, view more details, and choose the certificate to remove.

Description

This quiz explores the process of distributing certificates to Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It covers methods like manual distribution, email attachments, and using MDM solutions to manage certificates. Understand the importance of authentication and encrypted communications in securing these devices.