Living in a Digital World, you may have
come across the term
Digital ID several times while you are searching over the
internet. It is the electronic counterpart of government issued identity cards presented
in lieu of a physical ID to prove identity or right to access information or
services online.
On the previous post, we had a brief introduction to Digital
IDs. This week, we will be providing an in-depth view and analysis of what a
Digital ID is, what and how it is used, and why it is a must-have.
What is a Digital ID?
A
Digital ID, sometimes called a Digital Certificate, is
basically used to prove one’s identity online. It can be very useful especially
if you are always doing online transactions.
An example of where you can use the
Digital ID to prove your identity is when you do online banking. Most banks
require their users an identification card to proceed with a transaction. But
that is only efficient and possible if you are physically doing the transaction
inside a real office. What if you are doing the transaction online? To be free
of the hassle of sending out a copy of your documents to prove your identity,
you may opt to just have a Digital ID installed and this will do the trick for
your authentication needs.
Apart from proving identities, Digital IDs may also be used
for protecting the integrity of the contents of documents and emails. Without a
digital ID, altering the content of emails and documents done composed through
Microsoft Office or Adobe Document is just a walk in the park. But with the
cryptography technology employed by a Digital ID, you can be sure that the
content of your emails and documents is intact and was not altered by a third
party invader.
There are a number of digital IDs; some issued to websites,
and some distributed to individuals for personal of business needs. All of
these IDs are most of the time issued by a trusted Certification Authority like
GlobalSign.
GlobalSign is one of the most trusted Certification Authority
offering a number of digital IDs namely: which are ideal for enterprises,
individuals, and small businesses.
What do I get from a
Digital ID?
Aside from proving your identity and protecting the content
of your documents, there a number of other things you can do with a Digital ID.
You’ll find below what these are:
- Authentication
- A digital ID will guarantee the authenticity of the signer
of the document or email. This is important to be know who participated in the
transaction. It also gives the bearer an enhanced security giving access only
to the legit owner and prohibits access to someone fraudulently purporting to
be the document/email’s owner.
- Integrity
- Digital IDs protect the integrity of the data being sent or
the document composed to make sure that it has not been forged or altered
either intentionally or accidentally. How this is monitored is through looking
at the hash of the signed document or email. Technically, a digital signature
includes a hash of the overall document or email being signed. Any change to
the document after it is signed would invalidate the digital hash.
- Non-Repudiation
- Non-repudiation means that information cannot be disclaimed,
similar to a witnessed handwritten signature on a paper document.
How can I get a
Digital ID?
Digital IDs are issued by trusted
Certification Authorities.
These CAs vet the identity of the person or company requesting for a Digital ID
first before they issue the certificates to make sure they are real and
existing.
If you are planning to get a Digital ID for your personal or
business needs, it is best to identify first which CA can best cater your
security requirements. If you are running your own ecommerce business, a
Certification Authority trusted by your target market will be the best choice
for higher conversion rates.
GlobalSign has been one of the leading and most trusted certification
authorities with over 16 years of experience.
Why do I need a
Digital ID?
Anyone who has been navigating through the
internet for years may easily notice that there are a lot of bogus accounts in
forum and social networking sites. Many are faking accounts either by assuming
identities, or by entering incomplete or inaccurate information when
registering an online account. This makes it hard for internet users to trust
just any person or website without verifying their real identities.
A Digital ID may offer a resolution to this problem since it
is capable of proving one’s identity online. What more, it provides complete
security protection against cybercrimes and phishing attacks which number rises
along with the growing popularity of online shopping, electronic banking, and
other online services. This is done through encryption which translates a plain
text into a secret language which
only the authorized person can view and access.
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Get your own Digital ID, send us an
email or contact us at (+65) 3158 0349.
Keywords: Digital ID, Certification Authority, authenticity, GlobalSign
