A digital signature is a term in internet cryptography and in the simplest of terms it can be described as the digital version of a physical signature. The main point of difference between the two is that a digital signature is electronic while a physical signature is written.
While digital signatures can be used in a number of applications and to sign various types of documents, it finds maximum use in PDF format documents. PDF Digital Signature is an integral part of the PDF documents created using Adobe applications and all versions of Adobe Acrobat allow users digitally sign PDF documents they create.
The Basics of PDF Digital Signature
A PDF digital signature normally has two keys – a user’s secret or private key and a second public key. The secret or private key allows the user to sign a PDF document while the public key allows recipients to verify the digital signature present in the PDF file. A digital signature is actually the output of the combined process of these two keys.
Uses of PDF Digital Signatures
Just like written signatures, PDF digital signatures are useful in verifying and validating the information or data with which they are associated. PDF digital signatures are especially useful for enterprises and organizations that need to share data electronically and use PDF documents for this purpose. A digital signature can help verify the integrity of the data being shared.
Digital signatures can be used with any form of data transmission right from e-mails to contracts, or even messages sent in a more complicated cryptographic protocol. The PDF digital signature on the other hand is designed exclusively for Adobe PDF documents.
As stated above, digital signatures find maximum use in PDF documents on account of the fact that all Adobe applications come with integrated facility for digitally signing documents. This facility in Adobe applications provide free digital signatures to users which they can customize according to their requirements.
Benefits of PDF Digital Signatures
PDF digital signatures provide certain special benefits when applied to PDF documents. These include:
Authentication: All PDF documents generally carry information about the author and the source of that information, it might not be accurate. PDF digital signatures can help bridge this gap by authenticating the identity of the author and source. Today it is possible to connect the ownership of a PDF digital signature to a specific user through a special verification process known as Adobe CDS (Certified Document Signing) services. When the author of a PDF document signs it with CDS, the identity of the author is automatically verified to the recipient of that document via the certified digital signature in the document. Such identity verification of digital signatures is especially important in documents and information exchanges that involve financial dealing and e-commerce.
Integrity: Certain business information exchanges require confirmation that the data contained therein has not been altered in any way during transmission. While this can be achieved to a certain extent by encrypting and hiding the data, it is possible to alter the even encrypted data without really deciphering it completely. This stands true for PDF documents as well.
But if the PDF document carries a certified digital signature, any changes made in the data by a person other than the author will invalidate the digital signature. There is currently no technology that allows a PDF that is digitally signed with a certified signature to be modified and yet retain the signature.
As you can see from the above, PDF digital signatures and especially certified PDF digital signatures are of great importance and use in modern day by electronic document control. They can make a world of difference to the security of communications of any organization, including yours. for more detail u can refer pdf digital signature FAQs.
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