{"id":91714,"date":"2025-06-01T11:04:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T11:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exam.pscnotes.com\/mcq\/?p=91714"},"modified":"2025-06-01T11:04:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T11:04:09","slug":"consider-the-following-statements-a-digital-signature-is1-an-elect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exam.pscnotes.com\/mcq\/consider-the-following-statements-a-digital-signature-is1-an-elect\/","title":{"rendered":"Consider the following statements: A digital signature is\n\n1. an elect"},"content":{"rendered":"

Consider the following statements: A digital signature is<\/p>\n

1. an electronic record that identifies the certifying authority issuing it
\n2. used to serve as a proof of identity of an individual to access information or server on Internet
\n3. an electronic method of signing an electronic document and ensuring that the original content is unchanged<\/p>\n

Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/p>\n

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option2″]<\/p>\n

\n
\n
This question was previously asked in<\/div>\n
UPSC IAS – 2019<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Download PDF<\/a>Attempt Online<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe correct answer is B) 2 and 3 only.
\n<\/section>\n
\nA digital signature is primarily used to verify the authenticity and integrity of an electronic document or message, ensuring that it has not been altered since it was signed (Statement 3). Digital signatures rely on digital certificates, which are issued by Certifying Authorities (CAs) and contain the signer’s public key and identity information. Digital signatures, often in conjunction with certificates, can also be used as a form of strong authentication, serving as proof of identity for accessing secure systems or information (Statement 2).
\n<\/section>\n
\nStatement 1 is imprecise. The digital signature itself is a hash of the document encrypted with the signer’s private key; it is not an electronic record that identifies the CA. The digital *certificate* associated with the signature is the electronic record that identifies the signer and is issued by a CA, thereby identifying the CA. While the signature relies on the certificate, the signature itself doesn’t directly identify the CA in the way the certificate does. Statement 3 is the most accurate and fundamental definition of a digital signature’s purpose. Statement 2 describes a valid and common application of digital signatures in securing access.
\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Consider the following statements: A digital signature is 1. an electronic record that identifies the certifying authority issuing it 2. used to serve as a proof of identity of an individual to access information or server on Internet 3. an electronic method of signing an electronic document and ensuring that the original content is unchanged … <\/p>\n

Detailed SolutionConsider the following statements: A digital signature is<\/p>\n

1. an elect<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1092],"tags":[1119,1113],"class_list":["post-91714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-upsc-ias","tag-1119","tag-information-and-communication-technology","no-featured-image-padding"],"yoast_head":"\nConsider the following statements: A digital signature is 1. an elect<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The correct answer is B) 2 and 3 only. A digital signature is primarily used to verify the authenticity and integrity of an electronic document or message, ensuring that it has not been altered since it was signed (Statement 3). Digital signatures rely on digital certificates, which are issued by Certifying Authorities (CAs) and contain the signer's public key and identity information. Digital signatures, often in conjunction with certificates, can also be used as a form of strong authentication, serving as proof of identity for accessing secure systems or information (Statement 2).\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/exam.pscnotes.com\/mcq\/consider-the-following-statements-a-digital-signature-is1-an-elect\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Consider the following statements: A digital signature is 1. an elect\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The correct answer is B) 2 and 3 only. A digital signature is primarily used to verify the authenticity and integrity of an electronic document or message, ensuring that it has not been altered since it was signed (Statement 3). Digital signatures rely on digital certificates, which are issued by Certifying Authorities (CAs) and contain the signer's public key and identity information. Digital signatures, often in conjunction with certificates, can also be used as a form of strong authentication, serving as proof of identity for accessing secure systems or information (Statement 2).\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/exam.pscnotes.com\/mcq\/consider-the-following-statements-a-digital-signature-is1-an-elect\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MCQ and Quiz for Exams\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-01T11:04:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"rawan239\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"rawan239\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Consider the following statements: A digital signature is 1. an elect","description":"The correct answer is B) 2 and 3 only. 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Digital signatures, often in conjunction with certificates, can also be used as a form of strong authentication, serving as proof of identity for accessing secure systems or information (Statement 2).","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/exam.pscnotes.com\/mcq\/consider-the-following-statements-a-digital-signature-is1-an-elect\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Consider the following statements: A digital signature is 1. an elect","og_description":"The correct answer is B) 2 and 3 only. A digital signature is primarily used to verify the authenticity and integrity of an electronic document or message, ensuring that it has not been altered since it was signed (Statement 3). 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A digital signature is primarily used to verify the authenticity and integrity of an electronic document or message, ensuring that it has not been altered since it was signed (Statement 3). Digital signatures rely on digital certificates, which are issued by Certifying Authorities (CAs) and contain the signer's public key and identity information. 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