While an electronic signature can be as simple as a PIN, a digital signature employs cryptographic methods to verify the identity of the author and ensure the integrity of the document.
In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about digital signatures, including:
What is a digital signature?
How is it different from an electronic afghanistan whatsapp phone number data signature?
How to send your first digitally signed emails.
…and much more! So without further ado, let’s explore.
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First things first, let's define what a digital signature is.
A digital signature is a type of electronic signature that uses cryptographic techniques to verify the identity of the signer and ensure the integrity of the document.
In a sense, a digital signature is a “virtual fingerprint.” Once applied, it can be an embedded part of the document or exist separately.
Digital signatures perform three essential functions:
Integrity: The message has not been altered during transit.
Non-repudiation : The sender cannot deny having sent the message, depending on the type of digital signature.
This makes digital signatures more secure than handwritten ones. This is because there is no reliable way to verify a handwritten signature, let alone a way to know if the document has not been tampered with.