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Digital Signature

Digital signatures provide authentication of electronic documents and messages by using asymmetric cryptography and hash functions. The Information Technology Act of 2000 in India deals with digital signatures and certificates in Sections 2, 3, and 15. Section 2 defines digital signatures as authentication of electronic records using an electronic method outlined in Section 3. Section 3 specifies that subscribers can affix digital signatures to authenticate records and that signatures are unique to each subscriber, identifying them and proving the record was not altered. Section 15 defines secure digital signatures as uniquely belonging to the subscriber, identifying them, and being created under their exclusive control such that any record changes invalidate the signature.

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44 views3 pages

Digital Signature

Digital signatures provide authentication of electronic documents and messages by using asymmetric cryptography and hash functions. The Information Technology Act of 2000 in India deals with digital signatures and certificates in Sections 2, 3, and 15. Section 2 defines digital signatures as authentication of electronic records using an electronic method outlined in Section 3. Section 3 specifies that subscribers can affix digital signatures to authenticate records and that signatures are unique to each subscriber, identifying them and proving the record was not altered. Section 15 defines secure digital signatures as uniquely belonging to the subscriber, identifying them, and being created under their exclusive control such that any record changes invalidate the signature.

Uploaded by

Madan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Digital signature is a mathematical scheme to verify the authenticity of

digital documents or messages. Also, a valid digital signature allows the


recipient to trust the fact that a known sender sent the message and it
was not altered in transit. In this article, we will look at the sections of
the Information Act, 2000 which deal with digital certificates.

Like written signatures, digital signatures provide authentication of the


associated input or messages.

Further, digital signatures authenticate the source of messages like an


electronic mail or a contract in electronic form.

The three important features of digital features are:

1. Authentication – They authenticate the source of


messages. Since the ownership of a digital certificate is bound
to a specific user, the signature shows that the user sent it.

2. Integrity – Sometimes, the sender and receiver of a


message need an assurance that the message was not altered
during transmission. A digital certificate provides this feature.

3. Non-Repudiation – A sender cannot deny sending a


message which has a digital signature.
According to the Information Technology Act, 2000, digital signatures
mean authentication of any electronic record by a subscriber by means
of an electronic method or procedure in accordance with the provisions
of section 3. Further, the IT Act, 2000 deals with digital signatures
under Sections 2, 3, and 15.

Section 2(1)(p)
According to Section 2(1)(p), digital signature means ‘authentication of
any electronic record using an electronic method or procedure in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3‘.

Further, authentication is a process for confirming the identity of a


person or proving the integrity of information. Authenticating messages
involves determining the source of the message and verifying that is has
not been altered or modified in transit.

Section 3
Section 3 of the Information technology Act, 2000 provides certain
provisions for the authentication of electronic records. The provisions
are:

 Subject to the provisions of this section, any subscriber


can affix his digital signature and hence authenticate an
electronic record.
 An asymmetric crypto system and hash function envelop
and transform the initial electronic record into another record
which affects the authentication of the record.

 Also, any person in possession of the public key can verify


the electronic record.

 Further, every subscriber has a private key and a public


key which are unique to him and constitute a functioning key
pair.

Secure Digital Signature (Section 15)


Let’s say that two parties agree to apply a certain security procedure. If
it is possible to verify that a digital signature affixed was

1. Unique to the subscriber affixing it.

2. Capable of identifying the subscriber.


and

1. Created in a manner under the exclusive control of the


subscriber.

2. Also, it is linked to the electronic record in such a manner


that a change in the record invalidates the digital signature
then

It is a secure digital signature.

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