e-signature

e-signature help to electronically validate an electronic document in a way that removes the most possibility of forgery. This includes logging onto the e-signature application with unique credentials, the possibility of signing a password-protected document wherein the password is known to only the relevant set of signers, validating the form for its authenticity after signature execution, the capture of internet protocol address details of signers, capturing date and time stamp when signers signed using the electronic signature application and many more. Electronic signatures are not new. They are more widely used now as the technology matured, but as times pass by, it is sure to become ubiquitous.

The Drawbacks of Manual Signature

A manual signature is a mark or a sign impressed upon a paper or similar material by way of the person’s name written by herself/himself, either in whole or by initials. It is primarily written in a similar form as others can identify the signature only by the similarity of the signature. And when one signs a document manually, she/he indicates an intention to be bound by its contents. However, any manual signature needs to be in identical form (primarily identical) as humans are not computers to perform with precision. It is this process of identical form that makes the manual signature a little weaker compared to the electronic signature.

Further, in the manual signature, there is no traceability that the person signed the document other than the identification of the signature in near to form as to how he usually signs manually. This is how cheques used to be cleared by the bank before internet banking by way of matching the signature. They are often cheque returns because the signature is precisely not identical as handwriting strokes change over a period. While the manual signature is believed to be a better form of identification all along, it truly has lesser traceability than an electronic signature to identify that person signed is the same person who was supposed to sign

The Advantages of e-signature:

It is a foolproof way of personal authentication that several government organizations and high courts now accept. Several countries have enacted e-signature acts that now recognizese-signature as the equivalent to manual signature hitherto done. The e-signature has better traceability than a manual signature since any e-signature request is sent to a personal e-mail id and has better traceability that the intended person has accessed it. Further, digital traceability of execution date, timestamp, internet address adds to traceability logs immensely. It is quick, elegant, environment friendly, and long-standing, unlike paper documents which cannot be preserved beyond a point of time.

Conclusion

We now have the benefits of being able to sign electronically without using a physical pen, fingers, and hand as a way of personally identifying ourselves. We can just digitally sign, and our computer can store the digital signature or electronically sign by choosing one of the various ways of signing electronically. Thus, we can verify electronically that the document has been signed by the person who says they did due to the different traceability that computers and the internet offer. e-signature systems are more efficient and more secure than manual signatures. CryptoESIGN takes care of all traceability parameters towards secure signing and other unique validation features of the signed document in full. The e-signatureare here to stay and will overrule the manual signature in the near term due to the enormous convenience it offers and further legally binding.