What is the Difference Between an Electronic

Signature and a digital signature?

In the digital age, where everyone knows that an electronic signature and a digital signature online are the same thing with a different name, they often use them interchangeably. But it's not like that; both have the common purpose of replacing the traditional handwritten signature, but they differ significantly in technology, purpose, and security. 

Electronic signatures work the same as digital signatures do, but may not offer the heightened security and assurance of a digital signature. On the other hand, the digital signature ensures the data integrity and signer's identity with its cryptographic method.

In this article, we will discuss what factors make the digital signature and electronic signature different from each other.

What is an Electronic Signature?

An electronic signature, often known as an e-signature, works on electronic data like a scanned image of a handwritten signature,  typed name, and clicking on the " I agree” button. By scanning these things, it ensures that the digital documents are being agreed upon or approved.

Advantages of an Electronic Signature

• An e-signature is easy to create, as it works by typing your name into the digital form.

• They contain many forms, including a simple tick box, a drawn image on a touch screen, and more complex forms like biometric authentication.

• They represent a person's intent to agree to the contents of a document, similar to how a handwritten signature agrees on paper.

What is a Digital Signature?

A Digital Signature provides more security compared to an electronic signature. Digital Signature uses an encryption method that is unique for both the signer and the content, as it uses public key infrastructure to enhance the security of the documents. With this technique, it not only verifies the identity of the signer but also ensures that the document has not been altered after signing; if it has, the document becomes invalid to use.

Advantages of Digital Signature

• Digital Signature uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to create a set of cryptographic keys. It is used on a method where everyone can only see the public key, but the private key is kept secret by the signer.

• The signature validated the signer's identity after creating the signature on documents.

• A digital signature ensures that the document has not been altered after signing. When someone wants to temper the document, the signature will become invalid.

Conclusion

While we compare both signature methods, the digital signature provides more security than the electronic signature by authenticating the signer to do any government transactions on the government portal, as the government portal follows more genuine identity verification. On the other hand, the electronic signature may not be allowed in the case of government filing. Digital Signature used on Goverment portals like GST, MCA, Income Tax, Trademark portal, e-tender portal.