Electronic signature challenges seal

Romanians will have the possibility to buy their own electronic signature as of this week, which they can use for online transactions or secure communications. Subsequently, it will not be long before managers start carrying a smart card for electronic signing purposes, along with a fountain pen and the corporate seal in their briefcases.
E-Sign Romania today becomes the first domestic e-signature certificate provider. Its partner for this business is ADACOM, the regional branch of the world’s number one information security provider VeriSign.
The electronic signature certificates will be possible to use for transactions by both individuals and corporate entities. The first step to take in order to get the digital signing right is to fill in an online form on the www.e-sign.ro website. The next step is to send E-sign a legalised copy of the applicant’s ID. As soon as the electronic signature is approved, it is generated on a smart card. The smart card is a medium that stores the electronic signature data and allows closing online transactions, signing papers or communicating securely, once connected to a laptop computer or a PC.
The electronic signature is a 1,024 bit long code generated by a secure device based on an encryption algorithm. Having a digital signature certificate released will cost $40, smart-card exclusive. E-Sign’s general manager Marius Pestina estimates his company to come to post $10 million turnover a year collected from such operations alone by 2005-2006.
“It will be possible for us to sign papers and conclude contracts without having to actually be in a specific place,” IT&C minister Dan Nica said, commenting on E-Sign’s announcement. victor@zf.ro