Security Insecurity;   What's this, ESIGN electronic 'signature'? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2024, 06:37:17 pm
content: While attempting to pay on a shorter-term loan, I hadn't paid enough attention, to notice the nuances, of the 'E-SIG' items being presented to me.Seemed clear enough, when prompt asked for 'verified signature', but my smartphone screen stayed blank, at the sign here line."That's par for the course, I thought', but the system accepted my signin, and money."Funny", later I thought; "...had to e-sign some supposedly 'secure' link, to pay them...".But I suppose makes some sense.My question is about the options presented, where they already had several examples, of my hand-signature! Even worse (my imagination), is the thought that I had, maybe, in the confusion actually 'selected' a carachature of my own hand, rather than actual-authentic.Anybody have some insight, what happened there, with 'E-SIG'?

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2024, 09:37:37 am
content: I think your question is vague and unclear and probably that is why you are not getting any responses.E-sig can mean any one of many systems.I have no idea what you were trying to do, what system is used, or if you are still trying to resolve anything.Maybe you can clarify further.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2024, 04:53:02 pm
content: Well, I had been in the single transaction to make a loan pay-off, but that place (short-term loans) started using what they were calling 'ESig'.So I was curious and also a bit skeptical of some 'instant security' claims...Plus, the weird presentation, of several images of my signature, I almost wouldn't have thought much, but the signatures were perfect, that is, perfectly shaped letters in good CALIGRAPHY form, it seems.One of the 'signature' examples had thick lines, or brush thickness. Along with no explanation, really, of which I was asked to select.For example, using John Smith:John SmithJohn C. SmithJohn C. SmithAll in cursive form of course.So, I was presented with this authentication process, that seemed puzzling, later.(Sorry, I haven't yet tried Wiki, etc.)Next, I'll attach a photo, of what I mentioned. Thanks.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2024, 08:15:43 pm
content: Just for some better closure (and thanks for reading!), I think I figured out, that the menu giving options for signatures was for preferred style of entry, so they could match with a sig on file (maybe ?).But, still, I'm questioning why, after failing to 'verify' my brief attempt, as valid, why it STILL validated the process, taking my debit payment successfully. I had only begun to enter some cursive style first name, and gave up when nothing was put on screen.In contrast, at the loan office, downtown, they had a large tablet screen to do the signing, by way of a plastic stylus, on screen.This last time, in my smartphone, seemed like the system was taking in my signature for the first time...that's maybe why that menu of signing options. (I'm left to figuring this out).Maybe a valid theory, but that's all I got, is;Data INSECURITY

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2024, 08:29:15 pm
content: Whenever I sign the tablet from UPS or FedEx, with a finger or a stylus, it looks much crappier than what I do with a ballpoint pen.I believe I read that in some US jurisdictions, a ballot application could be rejected if the electronic signature did not match the signature recorded on the poll book, which is a possibly legal way to suppress votes.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2024, 08:38:53 pm
content: Brings up a whole nother can of worms, the voting integrity thing. Especially because many election workers don't have the technical background; for sniffing out what matters and what doesn't.For a simplified example, a naive person might be swayed by the sight of TWO padlocks on a lockbox; even when the padlocks are from, like, 1890.That's Security Theater, often existing solely for the 'looks' of being double-mega secure.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2024, 08:41:33 pm
content: Hmmm, oh and forgot to mention that it appears that some of these systems use a graphic field like 100 by 109 pixels, giving a blocky or inexact look to the cursive text.

author: victorb
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2024, 12:03:35 pm
content: Sounds like you had a confusing time with the e-signature on your loan. Sometimes those systems can be a bit unclear. If you're worried about whether your e-signature was legit, it might be worth checking with the lender to make sure everything's okay.