How to validate electronic signatures - Advanced and Qualified electronic signature marketplace (2024)
Imagine that you have been sent a document with an electronic signature. How can you be sure that the signature there is valid? There are a few important things to consider that are explained below.
Electronic signatures fall into 2 broad categories: 1) Simple electronic signatures and 2) Qualified or Advanced electronic signatures (Digital Signature) that are created according to international standards like ETSI.
‘electronic signature’ means data in electronic form which is attached to or logically associated with other data in electronic form and which is used by the signatory to sign;
Similar definitions are also in many other regulations in different countries.
Since this regulation is very broad then there are no exact steps on how to validate such simple electronic signatures and it goes case by case. In general the only practical way to validate this signature is to ask the service provider or entity who gave you this signature if this is valid.
With simple signatures it is very important to understand details. How was the signer identified and did he really want to sign?
To be absolutely sure if the simple electronic signature is valid then you can go to the court that makes the final decision on simple electronic signature validity based on the additional evidence provided.
Advanced and Qualified electronic signature validation
Internationally recognized standards exist for AdES(Advanced Electronic Signature) and QES(Qualified Electronic Signature). This makes the validation of these signatures very easy, independent of the vendor and possible also offline. Signature validation can be done independently because signature contains all the information needed to validate.
Majority of electronic signatures worldwide are applied to PDF files in PAdES format. Easiest way to validate these is in Adobe Acrobat Reader. When opening the signature panel then you see a list of electronic signatures, who has signed the document and is it qualified or trust is retrieved from AATL. Also if it is LTV (Long Term Validation) or not.
The European Union even has a special type of “Qualified validation service for qualified electronic signature” and there are 31 certified companies for that. If you use any of their services then they will guarantee that the signature is valid if they say so or they will cover all the damages to you that might come from their validation results. List of these validations can be see from here https://eidas.ec.europa.eu/efda/tl-browser/#/screen/search/type/3
Check whether your document has been signed with QES
Perform a validity check with an independent validator. We recommend the official QES validator of the European Commission. The EU validator checks whether a document has been successfully signed with a QES according to EU law (eIDAS).
Under eIDAS, an Advanced Electronic Signature (AdES) is considered legally binding, whereas a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES), such as those produced through qualified trust service providers (QTSPs), carries the highest probative value and is the digital equivalent of a handwritten one (if used as evidence in a ...
The easiest way to verify an e-signature? Check the audit trail. This is a detailed report that records the who, what, when, and where of a signature. It shows all the actions taken during the signing process, including any changes or modifications made to the document.
Docusign has ID verification options to meet both Advanced and Qualified Electronic Signature levels under eIDAS and around the world when combined with our Standards-Based Signatures offerings.
To digitally sign an Office document, you must have a current (not expired) digital certificate. Digital certificates are typically issued by a certificate authority (CA), which is a trusted third-party entity that issues digital certificates for use by other parties.
The first step of obtaining a Qualified Electronic Signature is to find a secure platform that complies with eIDAS signatures and is integrated with Qualified Trust Services Providers. You can sign your documents quickly, securely, and easily using fynk's eSignature software.
Advanced electronic signatures require that signers authenticate and verify their identity before they can sign a document. If the authentication and verification are successful, a digital certificate is issued testifying the identity of the signer and binding them to the document they sign.
To be issued with a digital certificate that can be used to sign electronic documents with an advanced electronic signature (and which can also be used to access computer systems over the internet), a person needs to register his details with a certification services provider that has been accredited by the ...
In general the only practical way to validate this signature is to ask the service provider or entity who gave you this signature if this is valid. With simple signatures it is very important to understand details.
The e-signing laws in India state that the e-signatures must be linked to the person signing the document in the form of a government-issued digital ID. The signer must have complete control over the data used in the generation of the electronic signature by directly affixing their e-signatures to the document.
If a blue ribbon symbol appears, that means the signature is sent by a trusted signer and the signature has been verified as valid. If a yellow yield sign symbol appears that means you should take caution because the document was signed by a source that isn't recognized.
To initiate a digital signature verification on a document, one can use the signer's public key to decrypt the hash accompanying the signature. The signed document is decrypted using the same public key generated by the DSC. This process is crucial in helping verify the authenticity of the digital signature.
The most recognizable authentication companies include Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), James Spence Authentication (JSA), and Autograph Certification Experts (ACE). It's a good idea to go with one of these companies, as you want a recognizable company to authenticate your autograph.
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