Traceability and compliance
Proving a document has not changed
How to check it, who can, and why it works without trusting us.
A sealed document can be checked without entering the platform, without an account and without asking our permission. That is the important part: if you had to trust us, it would not prove much.
How to check
- 1
Go to the public verification page.
- 2
Upload the document, or scan its code if it carries one.
- 3
Read the result: it matches or it does not.
What each result means
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Matches | It is exactly the document that was sealed, on the date stated |
| Does not match | The file has changed since then, even by a comma |
| Not found | That document was never sealed here |
Important
"Does not match" does not necessarily mean fraud. Reprinting a PDF or re-saving it from another program changes the file. What it does mean is that this particular file is not the one that was sealed.
Why someone else sets the time
If we set the date, you would have to trust our clock. It is set by an independent timestamping authority, and its signature can be checked separately. That is the difference between saying "it happened on Tuesday" and being able to prove it.
›Do I need an account to verify?
No, and that is deliberate: whoever verifies is usually an outsider.
›Will it still work in ten years?
Yes, as long as you keep the document. Verification does not depend on you having an account.
›What if I lost the file?
If you are in the organisation, it is stored. If you are a third party, ask whoever sent it.
A real case
The situation
A client suspects the amendment they received is not the one agreed.
What you do
- Uploads their copy to the verification page
What you get
It matches what was sealed on the signing day, and the suspicion is closed in thirty seconds without argument.
The situation
Somebody forwards a document and it must be established it is the same.
What you do
- Compares the fingerprint with the registered one
What you get
The check does not require reading it through.
The situation
Two copies look identical and one has been altered.
What you do
- Computes both fingerprints
What you get
The original is identified.
The situation
A third party wants to verify it themselves.
What you do
- Points them to the verification page
What you get
They verify without depending on you.
The situation
The file was opened and re-saved.
What you do
- Checks against the untouched original copy
What you get
Verification comes out correct.
The situation
You want to prove it without revealing the content.
What you do
- Shares only the fingerprint
What you get
The proof travels without the document.
This article answers
- verify a document is authentic
- check whether a pdf was modified
- what is a timestamp
- verify a document without an account