Security For Pasting a Signature into Word

[deejay33]

Hello All,

I have a salesmen who currently types documents in Word, prints them, signs them and then scans them into PDF format on our scanner. He wants to be able to insert his signature rather then print and scan it.

I know how to use Auto-text to do that but the security worries me. I guess I could have him print them to PDF using Acrobat after inserting the signature and it would basically bring him to the same point as if he had scanned it in.

That got me thinking though, really anyone could cut and past his signature from that PDF document. Even just Acrobat Reader can do that. Am I being paranoid? What do people do for this type of thing?

Thanks for any advise,
Daniel Joaquin

 

[kjv1611]

What about one of those digital tablets? He could sign it directly onto the document that way. You can use it instead of a mouse, as well, but it's made for writing and drawing and such on the computer screen.

 

[ThomasLafferty]

If you make the signature available in any way on the net, or on any publicly accessible computer, it will be nearly impossible to prevent theft of it. Even if steps are taken to lock down the pdf or the web page it's on to prevent use of the right mouse button one can still get a screen shot by pressing the print screen button on the keyboard and pasting it into any software that can handle a picture (Word, Paint, Photo Editor, Photo Shop etc.)

Bottom line: if security is that large of a concern, don't do it.

You might possibly put the scanned picture in a password protected folder, and then use a macro to prompt for password before inserting the picture, but you will still have the problem of the electronic file embedded in the Word document. If he just wants to print but not save, that might get you what you need.

Not sure if I gave you the answer you are looking for or not, but hopefully I have sparked some ideas.

Tom

Born once die twice; born twice die once.

 

[kjv1611]

If you wanted to consider the hardware option mentioned, I know of only one really big name with those:

Waacom [URL unfurl="true"]http://www.wacom.com/[/url]
That way, it is definitely going to be an original signature, not from a stored file, even though in digital format rather than printed format.

The good part here is that you would be skipping the whole print and scan portion of the process.

 

[fumei]

First of all using a tabley/pen is great. I have been using one for 8 years and would NEVER go back to a standard mouse. I use a Wacom. Yes, you can write in Word 2003. So that would be an option for getting it in.

Second, there is no serious security for this. The bottom line is that if a signature is graphically in a document - be it Word, or a PDF - as soon as someone can see it....they can make a copy of it. I completely agree with Tom. If security is of any serious issue, then don't do it. A graphic signature in any file can be copied. Period. There is nothing whatsoever you can do about PrintScreen. It is deep in the OS and the PrintScreen key can not be disabled.

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[strongm]

>There is nothing whatsoever you can do about PrintScreen

Actually, disabling PrintScreen is relatively easy (basically just get your app to register the IDHOT_SNAPDESKTOP and IDHOT_SNAPWINDOW hotkeys) - but preventing 3rd party apps from grabbing the screen is hard.

 

[fumei]

Yes, but this works for an app that registers them in that manner. Most users are not doing this - building an application that will interfer with PrintScreen. The point being is that an app has to be constructed to deliberately disable PrintScreen. For most users PrintScreen will work just fine. And as you pointed out, quite a number of 3rd party apps will do the same functionality.

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[deejay33]

Thanks for all the advise. I am going to set this up for him to use Auto Text to put his name in and then give him a PDF writer. That way he can save the scanning step. Really as you all say, it is impossible to stop people from copying his signature if they really want to.

So I did just remind him that copying his sig was possible so don't go off and sign every little note he sends to people. He covers central Africa for our company and you really have to be carfull of scams in some of those countries such as Kenya, Malawi or Zimbabwe.

Daniel

 

[tf1]

The best solution is to use a completely different signature for this function. It is a practise we have used at work because of all the reasons stated above. Use your normal signature for legal documents, banking, etc., but use a specifically different signature in AutoText for electronic communications.


Regards: tf1

 

[fumei]

Excellent suggestion tf!

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture