If you’re new to online signing and witnessing, you might still be getting to grips with the choice of technology that’s available. You may have heard of ‘electronic’ and ‘digital’ signatures – but do you know the difference?
In this blog we’re going back to basics to explore the different types of signature that you can make online. You may see the terms ‘electronic signature’ and ‘digital signature’ used interchangeably, but there is a difference – and an important one.
Simply put, digital signatures are more secure – which is why they’re our preferred choice at Videosign.
What’s an Electronic Signature?
‘Electronic signature’ is a catch-all term for any kind of signature that can be made online or with an electronic device.
Examples could range from the most basic way of signing, to those with very high levels of security.
Looking back over the history of signing documents, it’s clear that signing with a pen offers at least some level of security.
Everyone’s signature is unique and being able to duplicate it on demand offers a way of proving that someone is who they say they are.
However, with practice and skill it’s possible to learn to forge someone’s signature in order to commit fraud.
In that context, some electronic signatures are arguably even less secure than pen-and-ink.
Examples may include:
- Boxes in documents where you type your name in a handwriting-style font
- Documents where scanned signature have been inserted
- Squiggles drawn on a document using a mouse
Examples like this are easy to fake and are part of the reason that digital forgeries overtook paper document fraud for the first time in 2024.
However, a much more secure system exists in the form of the ‘digital signature’.
What’s a Digital Signature?
Digital signatures are a subset of electronic signatures offering much higher levels of security and fraud protection.
When you use a digital signature you’re getting more than just an image on screen; the signature comes with an encrypted digital certificate providing secure, tamper-proof evidence of who signed, and how. It’s a method of signing that holds the same legal weight as a pen-and-ink signature.
For those interested in the technological side of it, digital signatures use the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) system. Signatures are encrypted by the signer using a private key, and then a public key is used by the recipient to decrypt and verify the signature.
This highly-secure method ensures that the document hasn’t been tampered with, and verifies that it belongs to the sender.
Here at Videosign we use ‘eIDAS qualified’ digital signatures that comply with the highest European safety security standards.
Also adopted into UK law, eIDAS sets the security standard for electronic signatures across the EU.
The secure choice
So, when it comes to online signing and witnessing, it’s worth knowing what you’re dealing with.
All ‘electronic signatures’ are not the same, and if you want peace of mind for yourself and your clients, ‘digital signatures’ are the only choice.
Want to know more? Get in touch with the Videosign team today to find out how digital signatures can make your business more secure and legally compliant.
