Authentication (Greek: αυθεντικός = real or genuine, from 'authentes' = author ) is the act of establishing or confirming something (or someone) as authentic, that is, that claims made by or about the thing are true. Authentication of an object may mean confirming its provenance. Authentication of a person often consists of verifying their identity.
In computer security, authentication is the process of attempting to verify the digital identity of the sender of a communication such as a request to log in. The sender being authenticated may be a person using a computer, a computer itself or a computer program. A blind credential, in contrast, does not establish identity at all, but only a narrow right or status of the user or program.
In a web of trust, "authentication" is a way to ensure users are who they say they are—that the user who attempts to perform functions in a system is in fact the user who is authorized to do so.
Gartner Revises Server Share Numbers Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:43:24 -0400
Gartner revised its first quarter numbers and found that IBM actually beat out Hewlett-Packard in server revenue.... Who Is Running The Most Secure Browser? Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:03:13 -0400
Many users are undoubtedly not updating their browsers as quickly as they should, but you can't conclude any specifics about that from the recent study of Google logs.... DOJ Sued Over Cell Phone Tracking Practices Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:08:34 -0400
Civil liberties groups claim the Justice Department is bypassing warrants to obtain real-time tracking information on U.S. citizens.... Microsoft Internet Explorer Security Strikes Back Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:03:53 -0400
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 security builds on the Phishing Filter of IE 7 and thwarts cross-site scripting.... IBM Helps Link POS to the Back Office Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:50:30 -0400
IBM and Epicor jointly release an offering that centrally manages and supports POS....
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology
Troubles shadow G-8 summit Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:36:36 -0700 Between surging oil prices, food inflation and a credit crunch that's depressed global growth, leaders from the Group of Eight economic... Florida may signal boom in coastal oil drilling Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:26:48 -0700 Oil companies once viewed drilling in the deep waters off Florida as cost-prohibitive. Politicians feared even the slightest sign of support... U.S. share of foreign tourists slips, travel experts say Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:38:41 -0700 Despite the weak U.S. dollar, a boom in international travel around the world hasn't translated into an explosion of foreign tourists to...
Stealing ideas from nature Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:01:21 -0400 When self-confessed "nature nerd" Janine Benyus coined the term "biomimicry" in a book she published a decade ago, little did she know it would make her a household name, rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars.
Faked tiger photo sparks Web furor Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:23:49 -0400 Read full story for latest details.
Tunguska blast still a mystery 100 years on Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:17:51 -0400 It produced a blast hundreds of times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb, was seen hundreds of miles away and narrowly missed obliterating an entire city -- but 100 years to the week after the mysterious explosion in Siberia, no one is any closer to understanding what caused it.
NPR Topics: Technology
Viacom May Soon Have Your YouTube Password Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0400 A judge ordered YouTube to hand over the log-on names and the Internet addresses of its users to media giant Viacom. The matter is stirring up major privacy concerns. We Know What You've Been Watching on YouTube Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:13:00 -0400 A court has ordered Google to turn over a database that links users to every video they've watched on the popular Web site YouTube. Jennifer Urban, director of the University of Southern California Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic, says the ruling has big implications for online privacy. Twitter, What Are You Doing? Co-Founder Tells All Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:51:00 -0400 Twitter.com has so many new users that the Web site keeps crashing. Meanwhile, Twitter engineers are taking popular features away for retooling. It's a painful process, but co-founder Biz Stone has a plan.
BBC News | Technology | UK Edition
Google 'faces Street View block' Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:56:34 -0000 Google's plans to launch a mapping tool in the UK could be referred to the Information Commissioner. Warning letters to 'file-sharers' Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:41:04 -0000 The music industry says thousands of UK broadband users who share tracks illegally will be warned about it in letters. Google must divulge YouTube log Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:19:53 -0000 Google must divulge the viewing habits of every user who has ever watched avideo on YouTube, says a US court.
Reuters Video: Technology
Japan asks: anybody out there? Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:02:00 -0400 Jul. 4 - Japan's biggest astronomical observatories are teaming up for a fresh quest to find out if there is life in outer space.
Reuters Technology Week Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:52:38 -0400 Jul. 3 - The robo-bartender, virtual haute couture, and global leaders ride hydrogen style.
Robo barman pulls first pint Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:03:25 -0400 Jul. 3 - Billed as the world's first robot barman, Mr Asahi pulls the crowds at London's Selfridges department store.
AP Top Technology News At 6:44 p.m. EDT
Court orders YouTube to give Viacom video logs By ANICK JESDANUN Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:52:13 -0000 NEW YORK (AP) -- Dismissing privacy concerns, a federal judge overseeing a $1 billion copyright-infringement lawsuit against YouTube has ordered the popular online video-sharing service to disclose who watches which video clips and when.... 2 teens attacked in town mocked in YouTube videos Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:44:12 -0000 DOVER, N.Y. (AP) -- Two teenagers who drove to Oniontown after a series of YouTube videos portrayed the hamlet as a run-down, backwoods dump were pelted with rocks by an angry group of young residents, authorities said.... Internet addressing agency loses its own addresses Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:57:41 -0000 NEW YORK (AP) -- This doesn't sound good: The nonprofit agency in charge of the Internet's addresses recently lost track of its own....
CNET News.com
iPhone 3G queue forms in Manhattan Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:25:00 -0700 But the usual suspects--gadget fanatics--aren't the ones at the front of the line. Privacy advocates praise Google's new link Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:55:00 -0700 Company's decision to add a link to its home page that leads to its Privacy Center is enough to quell a controversy. Photos: Army designates year's best inventions Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0700 Every year, the U.S. Army designates a set of top inventions. This year's list includes a GPS-guided artillery shell and a new method for saving severely injured soldiers.
A Proactive Password Checker - Paper by M. Bishop, 1991. The author describes a technique, and a mechanism, to allow users to select passwords which to them are easy to remember but to others would be very difficult to guess. [Postscript]
BioPassword - A software-based technology that learns and verifies unique typing patterns. Includes an introduction to biometrics and keyboard dynamics.
Meta Description: [ BioPassword - the leader in biometric authentication software using keystroke dynamics ]
Blockade Systems - Password synchronization and enterprise-wide access control management software. Includes a return-on-investment calculator.
Meta Description: [ A recognized technological innovator, Proginet develops solutions for advanced managed file transfer, secure Internet file transfer, identity and access management, and secure password management. ]
Dos and Don'ts of Client Authentication on the Web - Paper by Kevin Fu, Emil Sit, Kendra Smith, and Nick Feamster. In the Proceedings of the 10th USENIX Security Symposium, Washington, D.C., August 2001. [PDF]
Finally Software - Enterprise security solutions based on PKI and Kerberos. Also offer a secure terminal emulator for connecting to Unix servers from Windows. Product information and downloadable evaluation software.
Meta Description: [ Finally Software delivers affordable software security products and services worldwide including DCE, DFS, PKI, IVT Secure Access, Verifiable Intent ]
Flicks Software - Software password protects web content (Windows NT / 2000). Free trial downloads available.
Meta Description: [ Authentication and password protection for all web site files including images(.jpg, .gif), databases, html files, .asp etc. Password protect entire directories (folders). Keep users and groups separate from Windows accounts. Includes web based remote administration tool. Use either cookies o... ]
I/O Software - Provider of software solutions, including biometric solutions. Site includes product descriptions and technology licensing terms.
iDEX Systems, Inc. - Java-powered iButton based personal identity management security services and digital certificate authentication for secure logon, secure messaging, and digital signatures.
Meta Description: [ iDEX provides Java-powered iButton based personal identity management security services and digital certificate authentication for secure logon, secure messaging, and digital signatures. ]
IIS User Authentication Tutorial - Information on various methods for WWW password protection using Internet Information Server (IIS). Text-based tutorial with some screenshots.
iisPROTECT - Functions with Internet Information Server to secure web sites. Includes live demo.
Meta Description: [ Protect all web site files including images, databases, html, ASP etc. Protect entire directories, users / groups independent from Windows accounts, complete web administration, does not require cookies or any programming. Prevent concurrent logins and password cracking attempts, set quotas on h... ]
Intertrust Technologies Corporation - Develops general purpose digital rights management platform which serves as foundation for providers of digital information, technology and commerce services to participate in a global system for digital commerce. (Nasdaq: ITRU).
M-Tech Information Technology, Inc. - ID-Synch, identity management software for managing user administration processes. Product information, customers, press releases and contact details.
Meta Description: [ Enterprise-scale software for managing user identities,
security rights and passwords.
]
NMA, Inc. - ZSentry two-factor authentication solution. Product information, white papers and contact details.
Meta Description: [ NMA developed the ZSentry technology for secure Internet and wireless communications. Applications
include Secure Email, Verified Identity, Self-Destructing Email, Certified Delivery, Synchronized Distribution, Secure IM, Secure Storage,
Bidding, Auctions, Futures, Voting, Secure Elections,... ]
Open Systems Management - Password synchronization and role based access control across UNIX, Windows NT and resident applications. Site contains FAQs.
Meta Description: [ OSM supplies adaptive systems and security management software for Unix, Linux,
and Windows, together with a full range of services ]
Password Management - Paper by M. Bishop, 1991. Discusses problems of password selection and password management, and identifies relevant techniques. [PDF]
Pluggable Authentication Modules - Sun's official PAM documentation. Programmer documentation and source code.
Meta Description: [ Operating Systems & Platforms ]
Remote User Authentication in Libraries - Comprehensive collection of resources for libraries and universities. Includes links to software and some links of interest to non-librarians.
Meta Description: [ Collection of resources on authentication in libraries and universities. Includes links to software that supports authentication. ]
RSA Security - Products include token-based one time password systems and single sign on systems. Site contains information on security.
Meta Description: [ RSA Security solutions inspire confidence by securing e-business. Solutions include identity management, access management, secure mobile and remote access, secure enterprise access, and secure transactions. ]
SAFLINK - Offer a range of identity management solutions based on tokens, smartcards and biometrics. Headquarters in Bellevue, WA.
Meta Description: [ SAFLINK Corporation offers software solutions that protect intellectual property, secure information assets, and eliminate passwords. Specializing in Biometric Authentication Biometric identification biometric Identity Management biometric fingerprint biometric security biometric security softwa... ]
Secure Remote Passwords - Software integrates into existing networked applications. Secure telnet and FTP available. Open source. User and technical documentation as well as source code.
SecureUser.net - Providers of tools to e-commerce developers. Site includes a technology explanation and case studies.
Meta Description: [ Your Authentication Solution. Decrease development time and power your ideas to market; Superior management capabilities of users and groups; Highest level of security for the most secure data ]
Unisys - Makers of several related products. Site includes rationale as well as comprehensive usage information.
Meta Description: [ Unisys is a worldwide information technology consulting services and solutions company. With precision thinking and relentless execution we help drive your vision forward. ]
Vasco - Makers of both software and hardware systems. Demos, case studies and product information.
Meta Description: [ VASCO Data Security designs, develops, markets and supports patented Strong User Authentication - Two Factor Authentication - Strong Authentication products for e-banking, e-business and e-commerce applications. VASCO’s time and/or challenge based Digipass strong user authentication products gen... ]
and karmasphere.com in 2005. He is responsible for SPF, the email authentication standard which was embraced and extended ...