Digitally Sign Documents in Linux Using ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors

Digital signatures are an essential aspect of document security. They ensure that the document hasn't been altered and that it comes from a trusted source. Digital signatures are widely used in business, legal, and government settings, but they're also useful for personal documents. However, if you're a Linux user, you may have struggled to find a good solution for digitally signing documents. In this article, we'll show you how to digitally sign documents in Linux using ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors.

What is a digital signature and how does it work?

A digital signature is a mathematical technique used to verify the authenticity and integrity of a digital document or message. It provides a way for the recipient of a document or message to confirm that it was created by the sender and has not been altered or tampered with since it was created.

Digital signatures work by using a combination of encryption and hashing techniques. When a sender creates a digital signature for a document or message, they use a private key to encrypt a hash value of the document or message. The hash value is a unique identifier that represents the contents of the document or message. The encrypted hash value, along with the sender's public key, is then attached to the document or message.

When the recipient receives the document or message, they use the sender's public key to decrypt the encrypted hash value. They then compute the hash value of the document or message themselves and compare it to the decrypted hash value. If the two hash values match, it means that the document or message has not been altered since the digital signature was created and that the sender is who they claim to be.

In summary, digital signatures provide a way to securely and authentically sign and verify digital documents and messages. They use a combination of encryption and hashing techniques to ensure that the document or message has not been altered or tampered with since it was created and that the sender is who they claim to be.

What is ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors?

ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors is a free and open-source office suite for Linux, Windows, and Mac. It offers tools for working with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It also supports a wide range of file formats, including Microsoft Office formats. One of its most useful features is the ability to digitally sign documents. With ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors, you can sign your documents with a digital signature, verifying that the document hasn't been altered since it was signed.

Installing ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors

Before we can start digitally signing documents, we need to install ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors. Here's how to do it −

Debian and Ubuntu-based distributions

If you're using a Debian or Ubuntu-based distribution, you can install ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors using the following commands −

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv-keys CB2DE8E5
sudo echo "deb http://download.onlyoffice.com/repo/debian squeeze main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/onlyoffice.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install onlyoffice-desktopeditors

Fedora and CentOS-based distributions

If you're using a Fedora or CentOS-based distribution, you can install ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors using the following commands −

sudo wget https://download.onlyoffice.com/repo/centos/main/noarch/onlyoffice-repo.noarch.rpm
sudo rpm -Uvh onlyoffice-repo.noarch.rpm
sudo yum install onlyoffice-desktopeditors

Other distributions

If you're using another distribution, you can download the appropriate package from the ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors download page: https://www.onlyoffice.com/download-desktop.aspx

Digitally Signing Documents

Digitally signing a document using ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors is a simple and straightforward process. Once you have opened the document you want to sign, navigate to the "Review" tab in the ribbon. Here, you will find the "Digital Signature" option in the "Protect" group. Click on this option to begin the process.

Once you have clicked on "Digital Signature," you will be presented with the option to add a new digital signature. Click on "Add" to create a new signature. This will open a dialog box where you can fill in your name and any other information you want to include in the signature.

After filling in the required information, click "Create" to create the signature. You will be prompted to enter a password to protect your signature. This password is required to modify or remove the signature, so make sure to choose a strong password and keep it safe.

Once you have created the signature, you can click and drag it to place it where you want it in the document. The signature will include a date and time stamp, as well as any other information you included in the signature.

It's important to note that once a document is digitally signed, any modifications to the document will invalidate the signature. If you need to make changes to a signed document, you will need to create a new signature after making the changes.

Verifying Digital Signatures

If you receive a digitally signed document, you may want to verify the signature to ensure that it hasn't been tampered with. Here's how to do it in ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors −

• Open the signed document in ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors.

• Click the "Review" tab in the ribbon.

• Click "Digital Signature" in the "Protect" group.

• Click the signature you want to verify.

• Click "Details" to view information about the signature.

• Click "Verify" to verify the signature.

If the signature is valid, you'll see a message indicating that the signature is valid. If the signature is invalid, you'll see a message indicating that the signature is not valid.

Additional Considerations

When you sign a document digitally, it's essential to keep your private key safe. If someone gains access to your private key, they can use it to create fraudulent digital signatures. It's also important to note that while digital signatures provide a level of assurance that the document hasn't been altered since it was signed, they don't guarantee the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of the document.

If you're using ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors to sign documents for business or legal purposes, you may want to consider using a third-party digital signature service that provides additional features, such as timestamping, to ensure that the document hasn't been altered since it was signed.

Conclusion

In this article, we've shown you how to digitally sign documents in Linux using ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors. With this powerful tool, you can sign your documents with a digital signature, ensuring that they haven't been altered since they were signed. Additionally, you can verify digital signatures to ensure that documents you receive are authentic and haven't been tampered with. ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors is a free and open-source office suite that is easy to use and offers a wide range of features, including digital signatures. If you're a Linux user, ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors is an excellent option for creating and signing documents.