What is a tamper-evident PDF seal?
It's a cryptographic fingerprint (a SHA-256 hash) of a finished document's exact bytes, registered the moment it's completed or certified. Change a single character afterward and the fingerprint no longer matches — so checking it proves whether a copy is the genuine, unaltered original.
How do I verify a PDF certificate online?
Go to /seal, upload the PDF you want to check, and click Verify File Authenticity. It's free, takes seconds, and needs no account — you'll see whether it matches a sealed original on record, plus who signed it and when.
Is this an Adobe Acrobat or DocuSign alternative?
Yes. EZ PDF Editor edits, fills, signs, seals and publicly verifies documents in one browser tab — no per-envelope fees, no per-seat pricing, and no paid add-on required for a tamper-evident seal or identity verification, both of which sit behind extra-cost tiers on DocuSign and Adobe Sign.
Can I certify a document I'm not sending for signature?
Yes. Seal & Certify Document (in the app's Extras menu) registers a fingerprint of any document exactly as it stands right now and gives you back a copy with a certificate page — no signing or signers required. It's for proving a file hasn't changed, not for collecting a signature.
What is a PDF audit trail?
The record behind a signature: who signed, their email, the timestamp, and — for higher-assurance signings — their IP address, device and identity-check result. Every completed signature request and certified document carries this trail, viewable on the Certificate of Signing page and exportable as an Audit Report.
Does verifying a document cost anything?
No. Public verification at /seal is free, unlimited, and needs no account — for anyone, not just EZ PDF Editor users. Certifying or signing a document does require a free account.
Can I still edit a document after certifying it?
Yes. Certifying builds a snapshot of the document and gives you back a separate, certified copy — it doesn’t lock or replace what’s open in your editor. Keep editing freely; if you want a certified copy reflecting your latest changes, just certify again to get a new one. Your earlier certified copy stays valid and verifiable forever.
Is an electronic signature legally valid in Canada?
Electronic signatures are recognized across Canada under PIPEDA and the provincial e-commerce acts. What matters in a dispute is the evidence behind the signature — who signed, when, from where, and whether the document changed afterward. Every signing and certification captures that record and seals the result. This is general information, not legal advice.
What's the difference between signing and certifying?
Signing collects one or more people's electronic signatures on a document and seals the completed result. Certifying skips the signing step entirely — it registers a tamper-evident fingerprint of a document exactly as it already exists, signed by anyone or by no one, so you can later prove it hasn't changed.
