Before using digital evidence, it is important to determine whether the certificate you have received is authentic and whether the associated files match those originally certified.
Online digital evidence certificate verification allows you to check the integrity of a certificate. If the original file is available, we can also compare its SHA-256 hash.
At SaveTheProof, we provide an online tool for verifying certificates issued through our platform. This guide explains what to check, how to interpret the results and how to preserve the documentation for future use.
What Is Online Digital Evidence Certificate Verification?
Verifying a digital evidence certificate means checking specific technical properties of the issued document, including its origin, integrity and, where applicable, its connection to the original evidence.
A certificate may document a web page, a browsing session or a digital file. However, verifying the PDF certificate does not automatically validate all its associated files.
To understand the verification results, it is important to distinguish between four concepts that are often confused:
- Authenticity: helps confirm that the PDF corresponds to a certificate issued by SaveTheProof, based on the checks performed by our verification tool.
- Integrity: helps detect whether the protected document has been modified since it was issued.
- File matching: allows you to compare a file against the cryptographic hash recorded in its certificate, provided that reference is available.
- Timestamping: links specific data to a date and time through an electronic timestamp. It does not, by itself, establish that the content is truthful.
How to Verify a SaveTheProof Certificate: Step-by-Step Guide
You can access our official verification tool at https://secure.savetheproof.com/verify. This free tool allows you to verify PDF certificates issued by SaveTheProof, but not certificates from other platforms or providers.
Prepare and Upload Your PDF Certificate
You need the original PDF certificate. A photograph, printed copy or screenshot cannot replace the electronic file that the verification tool needs to examine.
- 1. Open the verification tool: visit the official website using your browser and locate the PDF certificate verification section.
- 2. Select your document: use the file selection option to upload your SaveTheProof PDF certificate.
- 3. Run the verification: click “Verify” and allow the tool to process the document.
- 4. Review the results: check whether the system successfully validates the certificate’s authenticity and integrity.
- 5. Preserve the original: save the PDF without making changes and record when you performed the verification if it forms part of a legal case or investigation.
How to Interpret Certificate Verification Results Correctly
If the PDF passes verification, it means the document has successfully passed the authenticity and integrity checks provided by the platform. It does not necessarily mean that the captured content is true or accurate.
If the tool cannot validate the certificate, you should review the document or request assistance. A failed verification does not automatically mean that the certificate has been forged.
- Verified PDF: confirms the technical verification result for the submitted certificate, within the capabilities of the verification tool.
- Matching file: requires a separate comparison of the original file’s SHA-256 hash when the certificate includes that cryptographic reference.
- Incomplete verification: requires reviewing the file, its origin and any additional information provided by the system.
How to Check That a Certificate Matches the Original Digital Evidence
Verifying a PDF certificate and checking the certified file are two different operations. The second determines whether the available file contains the same data as the file identified in the certificate.
A SHA-256 hash is a 256-bit cryptographic fingerprint, typically represented by 64 hexadecimal characters. It is calculated from the exact contents of a file.
The “Calculate SHA256” feature in SaveTheProof’s verification tool is documented for File Certificates (Docu Certificate) when the certified file is available.
- 1. Identify the reference: locate the SHA-256 value included in the File Certificate and confirm which file it refers to.
- 2. Select the original file: retrieve the file you want to verify without editing it or converting it to another format.
- 3. Calculate its hash: open “Calculate SHA256”, select the file and run the calculation.
- 4. Compare the values: examine all 64 characters of both hashes and confirm whether they match exactly.
- 5. Document the verification: preserve the certificate, the verified file and a record of the verification result.
A matching SHA-256 hash provides strong technical evidence that the compared data is identical. However, it does not establish who created the file or whether the statements it contains are accurate.
What Should You Do if Certificate Verification Fails or the Hash Does Not Match?
A failed certificate verification or mismatched hash does not necessarily indicate fraud. You may have selected a different version of the document or a file other than the one originally certified.
Before making decisions or sharing technical conclusions, consider the most common causes:
- Incorrect document: confirm that you have uploaded the original PDF issued by SaveTheProof rather than a scanned printout or a different document.
- Modified PDF: check whether the document has been edited, merged with other files or saved again with changes.
- Different file: verify that the certified file has not been compressed, cropped or exported again since certification.
- File name changes: renaming a file does not change its SHA-256 hash as long as the file’s internal data remains identical.
- Persistent verification issues: preserve the originals and contact SaveTheProof support or a digital forensics expert if you need specialist analysis.
If the evidence will be submitted in legal proceedings, document the error you encountered and avoid modifying the original files in an attempt to resolve it.
Certificate Verification for Courts, Digital Forensics Experts and Compliance Teams
Online certificate verification can help professionals review digital evidence before including it in legal case files, forensic reports or compliance procedures. Each professional should interpret the results according to the intended purpose.
Here are some common applications of the available verification checks:
- Solicitors, barristers and courts: verify submitted PDF certificates and obtain technical information to assess document authenticity and integrity.
- Digital forensics experts: examine cryptographic hashes, electronic signatures, timestamps and metadata as part of a broader forensic investigation.
- Clients and individuals: check the origin of a received certificate before sharing it or using it to support a claim.
- Compliance departments: document verification procedures related to audits, internal investigations and regulatory compliance checks.
Our certificates incorporate advanced electronic signatures and qualified electronic timestamps. Article 41 of the EU eIDAS Regulation establishes legal presumptions regarding the date, time and integrity of data linked to qualified electronic timestamps.
These safeguards do not establish the truthfulness of the certified content or guarantee its admissibility in court. The evidential value of digital evidence depends on the applicable legal proceedings and the circumstances of each case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Certificate Verification
Can I Verify a SaveTheProof Certificate Without Registering?
Our verification tool is publicly accessible through a web browser and allows users to select a PDF certificate without requiring them to sign in first.
Can I Verify a Certificate if the Original Website No Longer Exists?
Yes. You can verify a previously saved PDF certificate without accessing the original website again. However, verification cannot recover content that was not included in the preserved evidence.
Can I Verify Any Digital Certificate Using This Tool?
No. Our online verification tool is specifically designed to check PDF certificates issued by SaveTheProof. It cannot verify digital evidence certificates generated by other platforms or providers.
What Happens if I No Longer Have the Certified File?
You can still verify the PDF certificate, but you cannot calculate the missing original file’s hash to compare it against the value recorded in its File Certificate.
Can I Share a Certificate with a Solicitor or Digital Forensics Expert?
Yes, provided you are authorised to share it. Send the original certificates and associated files while respecting confidentiality requirements and applicable data protection laws.
Can an Old Certificate Always Be Verified?
Verification cannot be guaranteed in every situation. Future validation may depend on the preservation of the original file, its cryptographic mechanisms and the availability of the information required for verification.
Verify Your Digital Evidence Certificate Online with SaveTheProof
To verify digital evidence, start by checking the PDF certificate. If you also have the certified file, compare its SHA-256 hash against the recorded value and preserve both original files.
At SaveTheProof, you can verify certificates issued through our platform and explore solutions for certifying web pages, browsing sessions and digital files using integrity protection and timestamping mechanisms.
Access our free certificate verification tool: https://secure.savetheproof.com/verify. If you still need to create digital evidence, explore our legally valid digital evidence certification services.
