Wyoming MPJE (Pharmacy Jurisprudence) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a property of a digital signature?

1. It is capable of verification

2. It is linked to the Rx in such a way that if the Rx were changed, the signature is invalidated

3. It is under the shared control of the signer and one other individual

4. It is unique to the signer

The correct answer is: It is under the shared control of the signer and one other individual

A digital signature is a cryptographic technique that provides several essential properties that ensure the integrity and authenticity of electronic communications, such as prescriptions. The capability of verification is a fundamental characteristic—digital signatures can be verified with a public key that corresponds to the private key used to create the signature. This verification process provides confidence that the signature was indeed created by the purported sender and has not been altered. Additionally, a digital signature is closely associated with specific data (for example, a prescription) in such a way that any modification to that data will render the signature invalid. This ensures that the integrity of the document is maintained because any change after signing will invalidate the signature. A digital signature is also unique to the signer; it cannot be replicated by anyone else, as each signature is derived from the private key of the signer. This uniqueness adds an additional layer of security and authenticity. What distinguishes the correct answer is that, contrary to the properties of digital signatures, they should not be under the shared control of the signer and another individual. The security of a digital signature relies on the signer maintaining sole control over their private key, as sharing it compromises the signature's validity and the overall security framework. Therefore, option C incorrectly represents a property of a digital signature