More businesses and institutions are switching to Digital Signatures for secure, efficient, and paperless document signing. But what exactly is a Digital Signature—and how does it work?
Here’s your complete guide to understanding Digital Signatures, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Digital Certificates, and why they matter.
Digital Signature vs. Electronic Signature
A Digital Signature is a specific type of Electronic Signature—but with much stronger security.
While a basic Electronic Signature may just be a typed name or scanned image, a Digital Signature uses cryptographic technology to:
- Confirm who signed the document
- Ensure the file hasn’t been altered after signing
This makes Digital Signatures ideal for contracts, agreements, and any documents requiring strong legal validity.
How Digital Signatures Work (in Simple Terms)
Digital Signatures are built on three key elements:
🔐 1. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
PKI is a system that uses encryption and key pairs (a Private Key and a Public Key) to keep your digital signature secure.
🪪 2. Digital Certificates
A Digital Certificate is your digital ID. Issued by a Certificate Authority (CA), it confirms your identity and binds it to your cryptographic keys.
🕒 3. Qualified Timestamps
These timestamps log the exact time a document was signed and lock in its content, offering even stronger legal protection.
Step-by-Step: How a Digital Signature Is Created
Let’s break down how this works using a service like Mahoros Sign PDF:
- You sign the document → A unique fingerprint (hash value) of the document is created.
- Your Private Key encrypts the hash → This becomes your Digital Signature.
- The signed file is verified → The Certificate Authority uses your Public Key to confirm that only you could have signed it.
- A Digital Certificate is embedded → This includes your verified identity and a Qualified Timestamp to seal the signature.
- Done! → Your document is now securely signed and tamper-proof.
Why Use a Digital Signature?
- ✅ Proves signer identity
- ✅ Prevents tampering or forgery
- ✅ Legally recognized worldwide
- ✅ Complies with eIDAS, ESIGN, and other regulations
- ✅ Streamlines paperwork and reduces costs
Quick Recap
Here’s what you need to know:
- A Digital Signature is a secure, verifiable type of Electronic Signature
- It’s powered by PKI, which uses key pairs for encryption
- Digital Certificates verify who you are
- Qualified Timestamps lock the content and add legal strength
Whether you’re signing a contract, sending official paperwork, or closing a deal—Digital Signatures make it fast, safe, and legally binding.
Start signing securely → Use Mahoros Sign PDF to create a Digital Signature in seconds.
