Jump to contents

Why Digital Signatures Are Not Signatures

When first invented in the 1970s, digital signatures made an amazing promise: better than a handwritten signature -- unforgeable and uncopyable -- on a document. Today, they are a fundamental component of business in cyberspace. And numerous laws, state and now federal, have codified digital signatures into law. These laws are a mistake. Digital signatures are not signatures, and they can't fulfill their promise. Understanding why requires understanding how they work.

Crypto-Gram: Full Story by Bruce Schneier
 
Date of publication: 21/11/2000

© 1996-2024 BalearWeb / Formentera - Advertising - Contact - Legal note - Accessibility