digital signature

A digital signature is an electronic equivalent of a person’s physical signature. It is like an electronic fingerprint that is unique to each signer. As explained by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, a digital signature is an advanced mathematical technique routinely used to validate the authenticity and integrity of a message (e.g., an email, a credit card transaction, or a digital document). It prevents the copying and tampering of digital communications.

[Last reviewed in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]

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