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Does this help ? What Is a Digital Signature? By: Gabriel Miller Have you ever wondered, what is a digital signature? While there remains confusion about what constitutes a digital signature, understanding how it works and its usefulness in the face of daily privacy breaches is a wonderful starting point. An Electronic Signature A digital signature serves the same purpose as an ordinary signature, but it can be applied and transmitted electronically. Today, digital signatures are applied to documents and files that the sender wants to verify as being accurate at the time of their transmission. The digital signature also includes a timestamp, which is a verifiable imprint of the time and date the message was sent. If altered, the timestamp will have an incorrect reading. With a digital signature, the recipient can be assured that the document hasn't been changed or corrupted while traveling in cyberspace. As a digital signature is a crushed collection of codes, it is virtually impossible to duplicate. Creating A Digital Signature A digital signature is more about encryption and decryption rather than adding your name to a document. Once your document is ready to send, you'll need to use a private key to encrypt the message, and then the recipient can use a public key to decrypt it. If the public key doesn't work, then the message is not legitimate. So a digital signature isn't quite like your signature written in digital megapixels. Instead, it guarantees that a message is from you and you alone and that no one else has tampered with the message. The easiest way to create a digital signature is to use an add-on program. Check out E-Lock, or visit sharewareconnection.com for a list of freeware programs that enable digital signature creation. How A Digital Signature Benefits You Although modern computer technology allows for nearly unlimited information sharing and programming, it has also made it easier for hackers to spread destructive viruses and alter private documents. A digital signature can help you avoid these problems. These signatures might also save you money if you are a small business owner looking to save on mailing important forms. As more sensitive documents and files are being sent through cyberspace daily, it is worth considering attaching a digital signature before sending a piece of work. best Barbara Barbara Norrey Library Services Manager 8 Collingwood Road Witham Essex CM8 2TT www.ephru.nhs.uk Tel: 01376 302268 ________________________________ From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Huss Lesley Sent: 25 November 2010 11:25 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Electronic signatures Hello, I'm hoping for some advice on this one. Someone has come into the library asking about electronic signatures: if she scans in her signature and inserts it into the email, is that an electronic signature? I said I really didn't think so, but realise I am on shaky ground as I have a very limited knowledge of this area. Could anyone advise please? Many thanks for any help you can give! Kind regards, Lesley Lesley Huss Librarian Medical Directorate Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust Smallwood Clinical Library Moseley Hall Hospital Alcester Road Birmingham B13 8JL Tel: 0121 442 3479 Fax: 0121 442 3573 Email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Web: http://www.base-library.nhs.uk <http://www.base-library.nhs.uk/> Intranet: http://pctnet.clinical_library/index.htm <http://pctnet.clinical_library/index.htm> This e-mail contains proprietary information, some or all of which may be legally privileged. It is for the intended recipient only. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to the e-mail. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely on this e-mail.