Flexible Authentication System Using Asymmetric Crypto-Keys
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current authentication methods, such as user IDs and passwords, are inadequate for the modern networked environment, particularly vulnerable to phishing, pharming, and man-in-the-middle attacks, and lack a scalable, flexible solution for varying levels of user authentication.
Innovation Solution
A system that centrally receives and processes multiple authentication sequences, including primary and secondary credentials, using asymmetric crypto-keys with multiple private key portions, and allows for flexible selection of authentication methods based on user identity, activity, or entity requirements, enabling robust and adaptable authentication protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional user ID and password authentication is used, then the authentication process is simple and easy to operate, but it is vulnerable to phishing, pharming, and man-in-the-middle attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process is divided into multiple sequential steps: primary authentication (something the user has - authentication code) followed by secondary authentication (something the user knows - password). This segmentation allows each factor to be verified separately, enhancing security while maintaining operational simplicity through structured progression.
Solution Approach 2:
An authentication code serving as an intermediary element is introduced between the user and the authentication server. This code, generated from asymmetric crypto-keys and transmitted through a secure channel, acts as a mediator that verifies user identity before password verification, thereby protecting against phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks without significantly increasing user burden.
2Reliability
If multiple authentication factors are implemented, then authentication security is improved, but the authentication process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication code is generated and transmitted to the user's device in advance, before the actual authentication process begins. This preliminary action allows the code to be ready for immediate verification, eliminating delays during the authentication process and reducing overall authentication time while maintaining multiple-factor security.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system allows the primary authentication step (verification of authentication code) to proceed rapidly through automated processes, rushing through the more complex cryptographic verification in the background while the user simply enters their password, thereby minimizing perceived authentication time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single authentication method is used for all users, then the system is easy to manage and implement, but it lacks flexibility for varying levels of user authentication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system dynamically adapts its requirements based on user identity and activity context. Different users can be assigned different authentication sequences, and the same user may require different authentication factors for different activities. This dynamic configuration allows the system to scale from simple to complex authentication as needed without redesigning the entire system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system is designed with universal components that can serve multiple functions: asymmetric crypto-keys can generate authentication codes for various purposes, the authentication server can handle both primary and secondary authentication, and the same infrastructure supports both simple and complex authentication scenarios. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite increased adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
To authenticate a user of a communications network, credentials from the user are centrally receiving. An authentication sequence is retrieved from a plurality of retrievable authentication sequences, and the retrieved authentication sequence is performed to authenticate the user based on the received credentials.