use of Electronic Signatures.Proposal SolutionAn electronic signature program can provide this company with an advanced solution for handling transactions online, as well as for lessening the cost of processing files through mail or long distance traveling. “The use of an e-signature is creating greater consumer confidence in online business transactions…” (Hammar, Sven), over the Internet. One of the most important elements to increasing online business, in conjunction with increasing sales, is to find which type of e-signature program to put into action. In order to make best use of electronic commerce opportunities, a secure environment with respect to electronic signatures is needed. Several different methods exist to sign documents electronically varying from very simple methods (e.g. inserting a scanned image of a hand-written signature in a word processing document) to very advanced methods (e.g. digital signatures using ‘public-key cryptography’). The term “Electronic Signature” is currently being used, but there is currently no agreed definition for it. It is likely that different interpretations may exist behind the following definition and wording. “The term ‘electronic signature’ means information or data in electronic form, attached to or logically associated with an electronic record, and executed or adopted by a person or an electronic agent of a person, with the intent to sign a contract, agreement, or record,” according to Jon Udell. When digital signatures are used, the verification of the authenticity of data does not necessarily prove the identity of the signer that created the electronic signature. How does for instance the recipient of a signed document know without ambiguity who the signer is or make sure that it is the one that he claims to be? The recipient may wish to obtain more reliable information on the identity of the signer....
