How to create a digital signature
A digital signature is more than a picture of your name, it binds your signature to the exact document so any later change is detectable. You don’t need certificate software or a USB token to get that. On PDF Verified you create an ordinary signature (draw, type or upload it) and every time you sign, the document is sealed with a SHA-256 cryptographic fingerprint and a public verification page. That gives you the tamper-evidence and verifiability people mean by a “digital signature”, in the browser, in seconds.
How to create a digital signature — step by step
- Upload your PDF — Open Quick Sign and drop your PDF in. It stays in your browser until you choose to save or send it.
- Create your signature — Place a signature field and draw, type or upload your signature. This captures your intent to sign, the electronic-signature part.
- Seal it cryptographically — When you finish, the document is hashed with SHA-256 and the fingerprint is bound to it. Change one character later and verification fails, that is the digital-signature part.
- Share with verification — Download or send the signed PDF. Every page carries a QR code and public verification link so a bank, court or counterparty can confirm it is genuine and unaltered, no account needed.
What you get
- The integrity of a digital signature without installing certificates or tokens.
- Tamper-evident SHA-256 seal binds the signature to the exact document.
- Public QR verification anyone can check without an account.
- Audit certificate records who signed, when, and from where.
- Free to create; $1.50 per document or unlimited on a paid plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a digital and an electronic signature?
An electronic signature is any mark showing you intend to sign. A digital signature adds cryptography that proves the document has not changed since signing. PDF Verified captures an electronic signature and backs it with a SHA-256 seal and audit trail, giving you the strength of a digital signature.
Do I need a certificate or USB token?
No. PDF Verified provides the tamper-evidence and verification of a digital signature through document hashing and a public verification page, so you do not need to buy or install a certificate to sign day-to-day documents.
Is a digital signature legally binding?
Yes. Electronic and digital signatures are recognised under the US ESIGN Act and UETA, the EU eIDAS Regulation, and equivalent laws in 190+ countries. The tamper-evident seal and audit trail make the signature easier to defend.
How does someone verify my digital signature?
They scan the QR code or open the verification link on any page of the signed PDF, or upload the file at the verify page. It re-computes the fingerprint and confirms the document is genuine and unaltered.