Nick @ The Linux Experiment
Regarding my last video: yes, digitally signing a PDF with a certificate is more secure. Yes, it’s used by companies, but:
- they generally use third party tools
- At the 4 companies I worked at, we NEVER used such a system to sign a contract
- Most normal users just need to stamp their hand drawn signature and send the PDF back to avoid having to print it, sign it, scan it, and send it back
It’s definitely something all PDF tools should have by default, even if it’s not “secure”
Dec 21, 2022 at 9:36amMastodon for iOS
Show threadIslamic Audiobooks CentralDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP There's Qoppa PDF Studio it has a Linux version which gets regular updates
Show threadMicDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP I'm with you. I use the "foxitreader" for such purposes.
Show threadIrfanDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP absolutely true. it's definitely secure and ideal, but 99% of the time, all we need is a digital "handwritten" signature.
Show threadVincent MaurinDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP A question that hits me on your video was "is it possible on Windows ?". I haven't use windows for a while, but PDF editing was also a mess over there (and on linux, I am sticking to evince for reading, then Xournal++ for the rest)
Show threadNick @ The Linux ExperimentDec 21, 2022
@vmaurin Not sure it is, no! It is on macOS though.
Show threadVitteliusDec 21, 2022
@vmaurin @thelinuxEXP Windows didn't even ship with a pdf viewer for a long time. The files where just not associated with any app (even though they could at least have done what they do in recent versions).
Now they just open the file in edges pdf viewer.
Show threadVincent MaurinDec 21, 2022

@Vittelius @thelinuxEXP

Thank you ! So it comes down that macOS ships the best default PDF app out of the box

Show threadNick @ The Linux ExperimentDec 21, 2022
@vmaurin @Vittelius Absolutelt. Preview, as it’s called, is really fantastic
Show threadDunelaynDec 21, 2022
@vmaurin @thelinuxEXP a Client of a project that i worked on use the adobe pdf readers Signature feature. How good it is, dont know...
Show threadRoo79 🇦🇺Dec 21, 2022
@vmaurin On MS most often businesses just use Adobe because they are the main brand for pdf. Adobe PDF can do everything @thelinuxEXP was talking about
Show threadPritceeDec 22, 2022
@vmaurin @thelinuxEXP pdfs on windows is still a pretty janky shit show unfortunately :(
Show threaddgrDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP there is a difference between secure and valid.
Show threadNick @ The Linux ExperimentDec 21, 2022
@dgr A stamped signature on a PDF is valid. If you sent it by email, there’s a trace that YOU in fact sent that document with that modification. Sure, you could dispute that in courts, but in general, there will never be a need for that.
I’m not talking about signing multi million dollar contracts, just signing an estimate with a contractor, stuff like that. It’s enough.
Show threaddgrDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP aren't you french? I had to put my initials on every damn page to sign a contract there! They would definetly never accept a picture in a email 😉
Show threadNick @ The Linux ExperimentDec 21, 2022
@dgr They do, if you also put a picture of your initials on every page ;)
Show threaddgrDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP you are right , it could have worked with the bank if I did that, printed and scanned it again and send it via email 🤣
Show threadTobiDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP I was trying to digitally sign a PDF a while ago and what was really bugging me was how hard it was to get a digital certificate. Why can't you just use your PGP key!!
Show threadRene Raggl 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 🇬🇱Dec 21, 2022

@thelinuxEXP I worked at all kinds of companies, small (4 ppl) to multinational with 250.000 and everything in between from automotive to construction to FMCG. Dealing with customers from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, UK, Scandinavia, US or Asia. I was an account manager and had to deal with contracts all the time. Not once did I encounter certificate signed PDFs in those environments. Most just printed, signed and scanned.

The only area I saw this was in (local) governments.

Show threadNick @ The Linux ExperimentDec 21, 2022
@rraggl Yeah, the only place Insaw them being used was when I worked at a company that produces software for realtors, and it was an option that let them send digitally signed documents to their clients for the purchase of a home.
Show threadAdam KielińskiDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP I believe there are three ways to digitally sign a document in my country. One is just painting letters like you mention, 2nd is a digital certificate from a private company, and 3rd is a government digital certificate with your identity approved by your bank. The last one is really only used for doing government stuff online like taxes or changing your doctor etc.
Show threadAdam KielińskiDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP and each is more secure than the last one and each has its uses. No point in going through all the hassle to get a certificate for dumb day-to-day documents.
Show threadNick @ The Linux ExperimentDec 21, 2022
@xtrems876 Absolutely!
Show threadTheCodeKnightDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP well, it's not less secure than signing a paper with a pen.
Show threadRoo79 🇦🇺Dec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP Again you are on point with this. Also how many companies actually use Okular for their official business? I wouldn't think many if any at all.
So having that feature is a waste. Better to have what the people who actually use Linux Gnome and Plasma want / need. 1/2
Show threadRoo79 🇦🇺Dec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP
I have tried using touchpad and kde connect remote input and my signature never looks how it should. So it does not get accepted especially if it is official documents.
Here in Australia Telsta a telco had people sign on a touch screen. Those documents were considered not legal as non of the signatures matched the hand written ones. 2 / 2
Show threadAiyuhDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP I had the unfortunate task of filling out some PDF forms a few months ago and ran into the same problems you have had. Tried a bunch of programs, and the only one that did a half decent job was Xournal++. Would love to see that functionality improved in something like Evince.
Show threadStacey AyodeleDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP THIS! THIS! ONE THOUSAND TIMES THIS!
Show threadKalach-ChaDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP My condolences Nick.
Show threadzeroDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP Firsr of all, my condolences. Now, on this matter, "more secure" is a bit of an understatement, right? How in any sensible definition of the world the stamping of a hand-draw signature can be considered even remotely "secure"?
Show threadkeyshooterDec 21, 2022
@thelinuxEXP reminder that countries like Japan don't believe in digital signatures so the last step is even more important..... unless you have to fax it i guess, but if not, then good
Show threadKaylieDec 22, 2022
@thelinuxEXP Last I edited PDFs I just use LibreOffice Draw. It wasn't great but the layout wasn't completely busted to the point that it was useless, at least for me.
Xournal++ can fill out forms and edit PDFs to some extent as well.
Show threadNick @ The Linux ExperimentDec 22, 2022
@wowitskaylie Depends on the document, but even a small broken thing makes it unusable, as you can’t send it back with text overflowing or an image displaced
Show threadPritceeDec 22, 2022
@thelinuxEXP one of the main things I really really miss about macOS after switching to Linux is definitely the Preview app! Working with PDFs on it is just MILES ahead of the built in solutions on any Linux or windows installs I've tried and that's just a shame :(
Show threadSupermelonDec 22, 2022
@thelinuxEXP sorry, but pasting a scanned hand signature is a really bad idea. It means nothing, it does not secure the document in any way, nor it proves that it is "signed". Putting your effort to "sign" PDF with png file is really a bad practice and shouldn't be promoted IMHO.
Show threadNick @ The Linux ExperimentDec 22, 2022
@supermelon Still it’s how most people do it and it’s largely enough for most documents. It’s exactly as easy to imitate a signature in real life. It’s neither better nor worse!