Each day, our developers are hard at work updating, fixing, and testing the Foxit eSign software. Why? Because you need us at our best.
You’re the user, and it’s important that you’re in the know when it comes to changes with our software. For that reason, we’ll be providing weekly and monthly software patch updates right here on the blog.
Follow along and see what updates, features, and fixes we have in store for you on Foxit eSign’s intuitive e-signature platform.
We’ve already been busy making sure things are tip-top for 2021, so we wanted to briefly catch you up. Here’s what we’ve been up to in January and February of this year.
Usability Improvement: Permissions Update for Name / Email Combinations
Release Date: 01/08/2021
Use
For many of our customers, the same position can be occupied by multiple people, making it essential at times for different name combinations to be used with the same email address. This feature update allows for name/email combination changes to be used on various documents.
Goal
- Before this release, document senders could use the name and email combination for the recipient; however, the software was inflexible and kept a single set of names and emails for the document signers. This restriction didn’t work well for many customers due to their established company or organizational structures. For instance, in many non-profit organizations, various volunteer workers, such as Charity Campaign Managers, can fill the same role during the same period of time.With this new release, our goal is to:
- Allow commonly shared email addresses to be used in combination with different signer names on a specific document
- Correct the issue of editing signer IDs causing duplicate address book entries for users
Improvement
With this improvement, the following changes have been made:
- The error message, “Please enter valid email ID,” displayed even following a valid ID entry, has now been corrected. Users can now change the name while signing the document without getting any errors and without affecting any names on older documents that are already locked.
- Duplicate address book entries are no longer occurring as a result of editing signer IDs
Security Update: Two-Factor Authentication Enhancement, Local Storage / Password Policies / Concurrent Session Testing
Release Date: 1/12/2021
Use
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an important security feature that can be used in combination with a login process to accurately confirm identity and keep private and confidential documents secure. This security update helps create a more robust platform by providing encryption enhancements for our 2FA authentication, as well as testing of concurrent sessions, local storage of sensitive data, and password policies.
Goal
Providing our customers with a method of sending, signing, and receiving important documents in a safe and secure manner is our top priority at Foxit eSign.
With this update, our goal is to:
- Test local storage to ensure security
- Test concurrent sessions functionality
- Test password policies to ensure the functionality
- Test 2FA functionality and provide encryption enhancements
Improvement
With this security update, Foxit eSign has:
- Successfully completed testing by our software engineers to ensure 2FA, concurrent sessions, local storage, and password policies are functioning properly and up-to-date to provide an extra layer of security for our users and signers.
Security Update: Session ID Update
Release Date: 1/15/2021
Use
This security release ensures that each session ID is changed with every new login and logout on the website. Session ID regeneration is crucial to protect the security of all users and prevent security breaches. Foxit eSign session IDs are changed with each login and logout to eliminate the chance of breaches where a hacker captures the session id and can potentially misuse it.
Goal
Ensuring session ID changes is an important security feature necessary to keep document signing and sending as a secure process for our customers and their contacts. With this update, our goal is to:
- Provide a security update that prevents simultaneous session IDs from running during user logins.
Improvement
With this security update, Foxit eSign has:
- Successfully disallowed concurrent session IDs from running, thus preventing misuse and breaches by potential hackers and ensuring private and sensitive documents can continue to be safely uploaded and shared.
Issue Correction: Special Character Display Correction
Release Date: 1/19/2021
Use
Some characters are used in HTML code and can cause disruption. Foxit eSign blocks or changes special character combinations, but some characters used legitimately by document sender/signers, such as “&,” “,” “<,” and “>”, were experiencing issues of not displaying properly. At times these special characters were displayed as “&,” “<” and “>” or remaining blank. Characters now display correctly following fix while still maintaining application sanctity.
Goal
- Providing an environment where Foxit eSign users can create, upload, and send documents easily and accurately is our top priority. With this software improvement, our goal is to:
- Provide the ability to our users of using special characters like “&,” “,” “<,” and “>” without experiencing display issues like “&,” “<” and “>” or remaining blank.
Improvement
With this software improvement, Foxit eSign has:
- Corrected special character usage for signers and senders. This issue was resolved by implementing necessary programming changes to correct where the characters are not displaying properly.
Issue Correction: Mobile Phone Number Display Error Corrected
Release Date: 1/22/2021
Use
When attempting to display mobile numbers from their address book, some users were experiencing an issue of the mobile number not displaying on documents being created. This has been fixed and now shows correctly.
Goal
Providing the tools for Foxit eSign users to display important information on their documents easily is a priority. With this software improvement, our goal is to:
Allow users to display mobile numbers from contacts in their address book directly on the documents being uploaded and created.
Improvement
With this software improvement, Foxit eSign has:
Corrected the display issue of mobile numbers from user address books not displaying on created document workflow. Our software developers have corrected this error and numbers are now displaying correctly.
Usability Improvement: Downtime Notification Display
Release Date: 1/29/2021
Use
We are constantly working to improve and update the software and features of Foxit eSign; sometimes these updates can lead to temporary down time. We understand that it’s important for our users to be made aware of any scheduled downtime so they can plan accordingly. To help, we have enhanced our UI design to display the scheduled downtime notifications on the login page.
Goal
We aim to ensure our users stay in-the-know about any down time of the Foxit eSign software so they can plan their usage accordingly. With this software improvement, our goal is to:
Provide information on down time scheduling directly on the login page so that users have an opportunity to plan accordingly.
Improvement
With this software improvement, Foxit eSign has:
Instituted a display feature change on the user login page which details scheduled maintenance and downtime of the Foxit eSign software.
Usability Improvement: Preset Signing Roles Are Maintained During Edit/Update/Switch In Signer Fields
Release Date: 2/01/2021
Use
At times, the signers need to update the names in the signer field during the document workflow while maintaining preset signing roles. With this update, document signers can now switch the recipient while also maintaining preset roles – meaning there’s a lot less work involved!
Goal
- Allowing the capability to easily switch recipients without having to update preset signing roles is an important and time-saving feature for our users. With this software improvement, our goal is to:
- Automatically reassign all the fields from the old recipient party being replaced to the new recipient party while switching the signer, thus allowing preset signing roles to stay in place.
Improvement
With this software improvement, Foxit eSign has:
- Updated the software to enable preset signing roles to be automatically maintained during signer switches. This allows users to avoid having to reassign signer roles for the document.
Usability Improvement: Remind Button Addition
Release Date: 02/09/2021
Use
Foxit eSign users and their signers are busy and often dealing with a lot of documents and processes simultaneously. For this reason, it’s important that an easy option to prompt a reminder is available for use. A software update was conducted to place a “remind” button in the assignor history panel that allows reminders to be sent with the click of a button once a document has been viewed.
Goal
It’s important for our users to have an easy way to remind signers that a document is still awaiting their signature. With this software improvement, our goal is to:
Provide a user-friendly method of providing a quick reminder to signers that a document still requires their attention for signing.
Improvement
With this software improvement, Foxit eSign has:
- Implemented a “remind” button that resides directly in the document history panel so users can send reminders as needed to recipients with one click. This button will show only once a document has been viewed. Prior to viewing, a “Resend Invite” button will be displayed to prompt viewing.
Usability Improvement: Button Added to Easily View Document Activity History
Release Date: 02/09/2021
Use
For many of our users, it’s imperative that the ability to audit the history of document changes, updates, movement, and signing is available. Digital document auditing provides an important method to prove legitimacy and cement the document and its subsequent signatures as legally binding, as well as assist users with managing the process of the document’s completion during the signing process. We have added a “View Activity History” button that allows users to easily see where the document is in the various stages of completion.
Goal
Improvements to our software which allow our users to continue efficiently completing documents and monitoring their progress and history is a top priority at Foxit eSign. With this software improvement, our goal is to:
Provide a more user-friendly method of auditing documents during the signing process to ensure they are on track and document their history.
Improvement
With this software improvement, Foxit eSign has:
- Added an easy “View Activity History” button directly on the “More Actions” drop down in the customer panel. This allows users to view the documents history, movements, and current process with just a few clicks. When this button is clicked, the “Folder History” page comes up and provides information such as:
- Recipients
- Date sent
- Date created
- Enclosed document names
- Author
- Latest activity date
- A detailed list of any activity and document movements
Compliance Improvement: Email Tracking Line Added to Signature Certificate
Release Date: 02/09/2021
Use
The e-signature market and its users are demanding more visibility constantly, such as legally requiring each email attempt to be documented within the signature certificate. To support this important user and industry need, we have added email lines as part of our signature certificate, which allows tracking and documentation of all persons who have received a copy of the document.
Goal
The record of completion and delivery notification is important and an essential contributing factor to the legally binding authenticity of the signed digital document. With this software improvement, our goal is to:
Record of the completion and delivery notification and make it a part of our software signature certificate to be in compliance with all major regulations.
Improvement
With this software improvement, Foxit eSign has:
- Added email lines as part of our signature certificate to track all persons who have received a copy of the document.
Security Update: Locking Accounts Following Multiple Failed Login Attempts
Release Date: 02/17/2021
Use
Sometimes, multiple failed login attempts can indicate an attempt by an unauthorized user to access an online account. To thwart any possible theft or viewing of documents and/or user information by unauthorized individuals, the locking of user accounts following multiple failed login attempts can prove invaluable. With this security update, we provide the capability to our users to “turn on” the feature of locking the account following a certain amount of failed login attempts.
Goal
Providing a robustly secure environment that allows our users to control security features as they see fit is vital at Foxit eSign. With this security update, our goal is to:
Provide an option to our users to enable “Lock User Accounts After Failed Login Attempts” in their Security Settings.
Improvement
With this software improvement, Foxit eSign has:
Added the feature in user accounts that allows users the essential option to “Lock User Accounts After Failed Login Attempts.” This option can be found in the “Security Settings” section of user accounts.
Compliance Improvement: Addition of “Deleted Folder History”
Release Date: 02/17/2021
Use
We understand that it’s important for our users to be able to see changes and have a robust audit history available as it pertains to their documents. Any changes and deletion of documents and folders is often necessary to comply with various regulations and ensure any signed documents are legally binding. With this new option, you can now view any deleted folders in your history.
Note: Option available only for select plans. Eligible users can request this feature be added to their account.
Goal
Many users are in need of a thorough and detailed audit history, which is often required to maintain compliance and legality in many industries and situations. With this software improvement, our goal is to:
Provide the capability of viewing all deleted folders for a document.
Improvement
With this software improvement, Foxit eSign has:
- Implemented the capability for select plans to monitor deleted folders for security and auditing purposes.
Usability Improvement: Give the Option to Display Secure Fields
Release Date: 02/22/2021
Use
We have received requests by some of our valued users to allow the option to display secure fields on the form as needed. Allowing the option to display the characters being typed, instead of just “x” can help while signing documents to prevent errors and make the document creation process easier.
Note: This feature can only be used when the document is not executed yet.
Goal
- We aim to make the document creation, sending, and signing process as user friendly as possible with Foxit eSign software. With this software improvement, our goal is to:
- Allow users the option to display the secure fields as needed during document creation and prior to sending the document for signature.
Improvement
With this software improvement, Foxit eSign has:
- Added a new feature selection under “More Actions” that allows users to select the option to “Display Secure Fields,” making it easier to view characters that are being typed and preventing more errors.
Compliance Improvement: HIPAA Compliance Improvement with Backend Access Code
Release Date: 02/25/2021
Use
HIPAA compliance is a primary focus for Foxit eSign and many of its users. For this reason, we are always seeking ways to improve upon our features to further the capability of our software to support HIPAA compliance requirements. There is now an option that can be enabled by document creators that requires a code to be generated and entered before user access is granted with each new login.
Goal
- Adding security updates and features that allow our users to more easily stay in compliance within their industries and with important documents is top priority with the Foxit eSign software. With this security feature update, our goal is to:
- Allow users who need to maintain HIPAA compliance the functionality to require a code be entered upon each new user login. This adds an extra security layer to HIPAA-compliant documents.
Improvement
With this security update, Foxit eSign has:
- Provided a security feature option in “settings” that allows account owners to require an access code to be provided with each new login before a user can access the software or any documents.
