Consider the following statements:
A digital signature is
1. an electronic record that identifies the certifying authority issuing it
2. used to serve as a proof of identity of an individual to access information or server on Internet
3. an electronic method of signing an electronic document and ensuring that the original content is unchanged

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 and 3 only

3 only

1, 2 and 3

APEDIA

UPSC Prelims

2019 • 02 Jun, 2019 • Paper-1

Consider the following statements:
A digital signature is
1. an electronic record that identifies the certifying authority issuing it
2. used to serve as a proof of identity of an individual to access information or server on Internet
3. an electronic method of signing an electronic document and ensuring that the original content is unchanged

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer

3 only

Mechanism of Digital Signatures: A 'digital signature' is a highly specific mathematical and asymmetric cryptographic technique directly applied to digital data......

💡 Analysis & Explanation

Mechanism of Digital Signatures ▼

A 'digital signature' is a highly specific mathematical and asymmetric cryptographic technique directly applied to digital data payloads to ensure their security.

Statement Evaluation ▼

It is absolutely not merely a static electronic record identifying a certifying authority (that description accurately fits a 'Digital Certificate', not the signature itself). Furthermore, while a signature effectively authenticates the technical sender of a specific message, it is not primarily configured or used as an everyday consumer login credential for general server access. Its fundamental, definitional legal and technical purpose is to securely sign an electronic document to guarantee non-repudiation, flawlessly authenticate the exact origin, and ensure absolute data integrity (by cryptographically verifying that the content has not been tampered with in transit).

Conclusion ▼

Statement 3 accurately and perfectly captures the core technical and legal essence of a true digital signature.

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