| Currently, when most people think of digital | | | | and standards similar to the ABA Guidelines |
| signature capturing the first technology that | | | | pertaining to electronic signatures. |
| comes to mind is Public Key Infrastructure or | | | | The vast majority of electronic signatures are |
| (PKI). However, the old guard of PKI is a | | | | captured through a method called |
| dying technology. PKI is a good solution with | | | | click-wrap. People use this method every |
| serious limitations that will hinder and impede its | | | | time they install new software or purchase |
| continued growth. PKI is both expensive to | | | | something online using a credit card. The system |
| implement and expensive to maintain. PKI is also | | | | will validate their identity and then require the user |
| time consuming. Professionals do not want to | | | | to click an OK or I Accept button |
| slow down the sales cycle to send someone to a | | | | to install the software or authorize a credit card |
| third party certificate authority just to make a | | | | transaction. The reason most people use the |
| sale. Currently, when most people think of digital | | | | click-wrap process is in its simplicity. There |
| signature capturing the first technology that | | | | is no training required and most users get |
| comes to mind is Public Key Infrastructure or | | | | comfortable with the process after just one use. |
| (PKI). However, the old guard of PKI is a | | | | Click-wraps have been tested in the courts by |
| dying technology. PKI is a good solution with | | | | dozens of companies, including AOL-Time Warner, |
| serious limitations that will hinder and impede its | | | | Microsoft, Netscape, Sun Microsystems and Dell |
| continued growth. PKI is both expensive to | | | | just to name a few. The technology necessary to |
| implement and expensive to maintain. PKI is also | | | | use the product is built directly into web browsers |
| time consuming. Professionals do not want to | | | | so there is no software to install. Finally, it is |
| slow down the sales cycle to send someone to a | | | | significantly less expensive to maintain, install and |
| third party certificate authority just to make a | | | | process than traditional PKI technologies. |
| sale. | | | | PrivaSign uses a patented, proprietary |
| PKI authenticates but it fails to identify who a | | | | click-wrap method to capture the actual |
| user is. The American Bar Association identified | | | | signature and the industry standard form of |
| this critical weakness in its ABA PKI Assessment | | | | encryption known as Secure Socket Layer |
| Guidelines, D.3.1.2 says a pseudonym or alias | | | | (SSL) technology, along with MD-5, SHA1 |
| may be used as the name within a certificate | | | | and SHA2 file integrity hashes to protect the |
| and not their real name. | | | | PrivaSign client’s data with a tamper proof |
| VeriSign, one of the largest PKI solution providers, | | | | seal. SSL is commonly available in virtually every |
| admits in their paper ROI for PKI that | | | | web browser and the user does not need any |
| PKI systems are particularly expensive to | | | | special training or instruction in order to use the |
| maintain. | | | | service. |
| A Better Solution | | | | PrivaSign’s patented technology allows for |
| By giving power to the business and not a third | | | | fast digital signature capturing on virtually any |
| party certificate authority, PrivaSign can aid | | | | document and from any web browser. |
| businesses trying to comply with regulatory law | | | | |