How to use the digital certificate and its uses
The digital certificate is a personal identifier that allows you to carry out procedures without being in person. Knowing how to use the digital certificate is essential to take advantage of the services offered by the Administration. Below we analyse all the keys and functions of the digital certificate in Spain.
What is a digital certificate?
A digital certificate consists of a set of data that is linked to a person and allows online transactions to be carried out through secure and personal processes. The aim is to ensure that our communications over the Internet are secure, confidential and efficient.
How do I obtain a digital certificate?
Before analysing how to use the digital certificate, it is essential to know which administrations are responsible for issuing this online document.
There are several bodies, known as Certification Authorities, responsible for issuing the electronic certificate. The usual one is the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (FNMT), which, by means of an application form, is in charge of grouping the data and granting a personal and non-transferable certificate to each person.
The new electronic ID cards have a chip with capacity for 2 electronic certificates, in this case it is the Directorate General of Police that issues these certificates, which are also valid for carrying out any administrative process that can be done online.
Installation of the digital certificate
Once the certificate has been granted by an issuing administration, it must be installed on a computer.
First of all, the applicant receives a personal code by e-mail with which the electronic certificate can be downloaded. It is necessary to accept the conditions and then install the certificate.
Once downloaded, do not forget to make a backup copy, in case you want to install it on several devices. Once the download process is complete, the certificate can be used commonly.
How to use the electronic certificate once installed
The digital certificate allows you to carry out two primary actions: signing documents on the Internet and identifying yourself.
Regarding the signature, we can attach a personal signature in a PDF, for example, with the support of an official digital document. By means of the certificate, you have a signature on your own computer that you can add to any type of application, both in PDF and Word and other formats that support signature spaces. The file is usually saved in two versions, the original (without signature) and the document already signed.
With regard to online identification, the digital certificate offers this possibility, which is, in fact, the most widely used by users. Accessing our bank details or personal spaces on the Internet using an official certificate is much more secure than using passwords.
The Administration currently offers the possibility of requesting a work history, a criminal record, all kinds of procedures with the Social Security or a birth certificate by means of a digital certificate. Public bodies immediately check that the person trying to access this data is the holder and is therefore authorised. What we achieve is to avoid the need for these types of procedures to be carried out in person, as they can be solved online.
Is it useful to have an electronic certificate?
The usefulness of an official electronic certificate depends, to a large extent, on the volume of administrative procedures that you usually carry out.
The main advantage of electronic certificates is that they allow you to avoid face-to-face procedures. Sometimes we have to request a specific document from the Administration, a procedure that in reality takes just a few seconds, and for this it is necessary to travel to the Administration in person, to which is added the waiting time.
If you regularly request official documents from the Administration, an electronic certificate can help you to reduce waiting times and avoid the time spent in person required for official requests.
Regarding the usefulness of the electronic certificate and security, it is important that you only install it on absolutely trusted computers, to which only you have access. The digital certificate can be installed on a mobile phone or a personal computer, but always on equipment that is absolutely private, and therefore prevents unauthorised persons from accessing the contents of the electronic certificate.
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