Tamper-evident seal
A tamper-evident seal is any mark or mechanism that doesn't prevent someone from changing a document but makes it obvious if they did.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 1 min read
On paper and on screen
On paper, it's a notary's embossed seal, initials on every page, or tape that tears when lifted. For electronic documents it's math: a document hash recorded at signing, or a certificate-based signature that a PDF reader flags as invalid once the file is edited. Either way, a seal only helps if someone checks it.
Why it matters
Disputes over signed contracts are rarely about whether someone signed. They're about what the document said when they did. A tamper-evident record lets you show that the copy in front of a judge or an insurer is the one that was signed, page for page.
In SignMaster
- Each original file's SHA-256 fingerprint is printed on the certificate of completion.
- The envelope ID and page numbers are stamped on every page, so a swapped or loose page stands out.
- The audit trail logs every view, signature and download with a time and IP address.
SignMaster doesn't add a PKI certificate seal to the PDF, so a PDF reader won't show a signature panel for it. The evidence is the fingerprint, the page stamps and the trail.