What is Digital signatures?

Understanding Digital signatures

Provide authentication of a sender and integrity of a sender message and non-repudiation services. Digital signatures are cryptographic mechanisms that verify the authenticity and integrity of digital messages or documents. Using asymmetric cryptography, the sender uses their private key to create a unique signature that recipients can verify using the sender public key. Unlike encryption, digital signatures do not provide confidentiality. Digital signature standards include FIPS 186-4 DSS, PKCS#1 RSA, and ECDSA specifications. Organizations implement digital signatures through PKI, document signing solutions, code signing certificates, and email signing technologies. For example, a financial institution might use digital signatures for transaction authorization, allowing customers to digitally sign wire transfers that can be verified as authentic and unmodified. Related terms: PKI, Non-repudiation, Message integrity, Public key cryptography, Hash function, Certificate authority, Electronic signature.