An electronic pen device configured to be used with a remote secure server for registering handwritten signatures, said secure server comprising an authentication database storing authentication information in connection with pre- registered users and a signature registration database for registering handwritten signatures, the electronic pen device comprising: an input/output (I/O) interface; a memory; a tip and capturing means connected thereto for capturing handwritten signatures; a network interface adapted to be connected to a data network, and a processing unit connected to said I/O interface, to said capturing means, to said memory and to said network interface; where said electronic pen device is configured to: obtain personnel identification information originating from a user desiring to sign and automatically authenticate said user by inquiring said remote secure server using said personnel identification information, wherein said authentication includes synchronizing the pen clock with the server clock via the network interface; receive an encryption code, generated by the secure server, unique to the given user and an indication of a successful authentication, wherein the pen is configured to communicate with the secure server using said encryption code for all subsequent messages transmitted; capture a handwritten signature after a successful authentication, encrypt and transmit said captured handwritten signature to said remote secure server via said data network for storage in association with said user; and receive via said data network a unique signature identifier thereto, generated by said secure server and communicate said unique signature identifier to said user in order to be used as a reference during future authentication of said handwritten signature. an input/output (I/O) interface; a memory; a tip and capturing means connected thereto for capturing handwritten signatures; a network interface adapted to be connected to a data network, and a processing unit connected to said I/O interface, to said capturing means, to said memory and to said network interface; where said electronic pen device is configured to: obtain personnel identification information originating from a user desiring to sign and automatically authenticate said user by inquiring said remote secure server using said personnel identification information, wherein said authentication includes synchronizing the pen clock with the server clock via the network interface; receive an encryption code, generated by the secure server, unique to the given user and an indication of a successful authentication, wherein the pen is configured to communicate with the secure server using said encryption code for all subsequent messages transmitted; capture a handwritten signature after a successful authentication, encrypt and transmit said captured handwritten signature to said remote secure server via said data network for storage in association with said user; and receive via said data network a unique signature identifier thereto, generated by said secure server and communicate said unique signature identifier to said user in order to be used as a reference during future authentication of said handwritten signature. obtain personnel identification information originating from a user desiring to sign and automatically authenticate said user by inquiring said remote secure server using said personnel identification information, wherein said authentication includes synchronizing the pen clock with the server clock via the network interface; receive an encryption code, generated by the secure server, unique to the given user and an indication of a successful authentication, wherein the pen is configured to communicate with the secure server using said encryption code for all subsequent messages transmitted; capture a handwritten signature after a successful authentication, encrypt and transmit said captured handwritten signature to said remote secure server via said data network for storage in association with said user; and receive via said data network a unique signature identifier thereto, generated by said secure server and communicate said unique signature identifier to said user in order to be used as a reference during future authentication of said handwritten signature.