How to Tell if an Electronic Signature is Valid

Safety comes first, regardless of the specific topic we are talking about, but recently, most of the security and safety issues are closely connected to our online activity. Namely, we all use our phones on a daily basis to pay bills and transfer money, and we also tend to share so many personal details on social networks, meaning that most of our private info is stored there. Of course, we wouldn’t want anyone to have access to that info, which is why there is so much talk about online safety. Yes, the technology has advanced so much that today, everything is just a few clicks away from us, regardless of whether we use our phones, tablets, or laptops, but scams and online frauds are also on the rise.

The importance of passwords

The first thing to clarify here is that passwords are extremely important, and depending on the sensitivity of the data it protects, the password should be less or more complex to crack. Understandably, it’s highly recommended that you use various symbols and letters for every password, but we understand that doing so might get tricky, especially if your job is based online. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean how you should use the same password over and over again, as, guess what, that’s one of the first things hackers do. Now, when we have settled that, let’s focus on other aspects of online safety and security, or to be more precise, on one of the most troubling things people encounter in their everyday life-electronic signatures. Yes, most people use electronic signatures because it’s more convenient, but just because you see one doesn’t mean it’s legit.

Most popular types of digital signatures

There are different types of electronic signatures, but only two are highly popular and widespread. The first one is taking an image of your signature and placing it into the document. There are various ways to do so, and what’s great about this one is that it’s a pretty easy thing to do. On the other hand, there are some security risks, and if you don’t protect the document with your signature well enough, one can easily copy the image and use it for any purpose they want. In essence, the fact that makes it so easy to copy and reuse is that there is no way to prove the originality of the signature, and since it’s pretty open to orangery, it’s not something we would recommend. For those who already use this type of electronic signature, don’t despair because you can get a digital third-party certificate that will add more authenticity and legitimacy to it and also protect it better, but beware that it might be a costly option.

Another solution is to opt for a cloud-based signature. The fact that it is cloud-based already grants a certain level of higher security, but that’s just the beginning. Namely, there are so many software solutions available online that you can use for this purpose, and the thing that makes them great is the high level of encryption these software use to protect both your and their data. This a bit more modern solution is getting pretty popular among business people because we all know how in order to successfully run any business today, speed and efficiency need to be on the highest level, which is something you get with electronic signatures.

Since we have cleared that out, let’s focus on how to determine whether an electronic signature is valid.

Check the identity of the signed person

Most electronic signature issues are legal ones, and it’s mostly about how to check or prove in court whether the signature is valid. The first step is not just to know but prove who signed some document and their identity.  There are various ways to do so, so before making any decision, especially the most important ones, make sure to double-check the identity of the one signing the document. One way of doing so is authentication via message, but there are other ways too.

Software compliance

Okay, this is one of the most basic things to do, but it’s still where most people make a mistake. Yes, it’s pretty easy to find software online, but the crucial thing before you actually do anything is to check whether the software is compliant with all requirements and whether it’s recognized by the law. You want to go with the best software and the one that will make your life easier and not more complicated, which is why doing a bit of research is a must.

Check whether it’s been altered in any way

A great thing about electronic signatures is that most software use some kind of alert that will notify you in case the signature has been tampered with in any way. Now, this is strictly about legitimacy and protection, and even the slightest change like reducing space or capitalizing some letters will cause an alert, and you will be alerted about it.

Timing and access

Time authentication of the signature might be difficult to prove, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. The only thing you need is to find reliable software that will do this for you. As for the access, a great way to determine whether an electronic signature is valid or not is by checking whether all parties included and signed have access to the document. Of course, this is something optional only for documents where several parties are involved, but it is an efficient and fast way to check the authenticity of the signatures and documents as well.

Conclusion

Even though electronic signatures have revolutionized the business world, there are still many things to cover and upgrade safety-wise. That is why being cautious with your personal data and an electronic signature is something of a must. Luckily there are renowned companies like firma elettronica with vast experience in this field that can be of great help in creating an authentic and protected electronic signature and verifying other signatures, and if you need more info on this topic, make sure to check confirmo.it.