What is the primary function of digital signatures?

The primary function of digital signatures is to provide proof of identity and authenticity. Digital signatures use cryptographic techniques to ensure that a specific individual or organization has signed a document or message, subsequently verifying its origin and confirming that the content has not been altered since it was signed. This is particularly important in contexts where trust and integrity are paramount, such as in legal documents, contracts, and financial transactions.

When a digital signature is generated, it creates a unique hash value of the message or document and encrypts it with the signer's private key. Once the signature is produced, anyone with the corresponding public key can decrypt the hash, allowing them to verify both the sender’s identity and the integrity of the message or document. This process helps prevent forgery and ensures that the receiver can trust the information as authentic.

While authenticating user access is vital, and digital signatures can play a role indirectly in securing communication channels where user access is established, their main utility lies in proving the sender's identity and the integrity of the transmitted information. Storing personal identification and implementing whitelisting are not related to the fundamental purpose of digital signatures. These functions serve different aspects of data security and identity management rather than proving authenticity through cryptographic means.