Zero Footprint Secure Internet Authentication Using Network Smart Card

Abstract

Abstract. This paper describes the motivation and technological innovation of Network Smart Card, a next generation smart card architecture that supports standard Internet communication and security protocols. It outlines the role of these next generation smart cards in addressing some of the weaknesses inherent in current Internet authentication frameworks. The paper evaluates several common methods of authenticating users as well as servers during online transactions and shows how they can be improved by the use of Network Smart Card. Traditional two-factor authentication techniques require modifications to client machine, remote server, or both. This paper describes a method of achieving the same two-factor authentication for secure Internet access without requiring any modification to host device or remote servers. Finally, the advantages of Network Smart Card are evaluated against other forms of authentication, such as conventional smart cards and OTP tokens.