Syskey

Abstract: We propose a simple method for improving the security of hashed passwords: the maintenance of additional ``honeywords'' (false passwords) associated with each user's account. An adversary who steals a file of hashed passwords and inverts the hash function cannot tell if he has found the password or a honeyword. The attempted use of a honeyword for login sets off an alarm. An auxiliary server (the ``honeychecker'') can distinguish the user password from honeywords for the login routine, and will set off an alarm if a honeyword is submitted.

Abstract: An user authentication system for authenticating a user using an IC card in conjunction with a portable terminal used to generate a one-time password and a server used to generate a corresponding one-time password for user authentication. The IC card contains a secret key for generating a one-time password and predetermined random numbers. The portable terminal contains a card receiver for receiving the IC card, a random number memory for reading and storing, and then deleting the random numbers of the IC card, a first password generator for generating a one-time password by the secret key of the IC card and the random number, a first random number changer for changing the random number stored in the random number memory into a predetermined value and storing the changed value in the random number storing portion, and a display for displaying the processed results of the terminal and the server. The server includes a secret key memory for storing a secret key and a random number, a second password generator for generating a one-time password, a second random number changer for storing a random number value identical to the random number value of the terminal, a password receiver for receiving the one-time password of the terminal, a password verifier for verifying the password to authenticate the user. As a result, it is possible to raise the security level by using a one-time password in which a different password is used each time a user is authenticated, and to save costs by generating a one-time password for various services with a single terminal.

Abstract: The invention provides central storage for core data secrets, referred to as data items. The architecture includes a storage server, a plurality of installable storage providers, and one or more authentication providers. Programming interfaces are exposed so that application programs can utilize the services provided by the invention without having to actually implement the features. When storing a data item using the protected storage services, an application program can specify rules that determine when to allow access to the data item. Access can, if desired, be limited to the current computer user. Access can similarly be limited to specified application programs or to certain classes of application programs. The storage server authenticates requesting application programs before returning data to them. A default authentication provider authenticates users based on their computer or network logon. A default storage provider allows storage of data items on magnetic media such as a hard disk or a floppy disk. Data items are encrypted before they are stored. The encryption optionally uses a key that is derived from the previous authentication of the user. Specifically, the key is derived from the user's password, supplied during logon. In addition, an application program or the user can specify that certain items require another password that is entered whenever access to the data is requested. The default storage provider implements a multi-level encryption scheme to minimize the amount of encryption that has to be re-done when the user changes a password. Each data item is encrypted using an item key that is generated randomly by the system. The item key is in turn encrypted with a master key that is itself encrypted with a key derived from the user-supplied password (such as the user's logon password).