Strengthening user authentication through opportunistic cryptographic identity assertions

Abstract

User authentication systems are at an impasse. The most ubiquitous method -- the password -- has numerous problems, including susceptibility to unintentional exposure via phishing and cross-site password reuse. Second-factor authentication schemes have the potential to increase security but face usability and deployability challenges. For example, conventional second-factor schemes change the user authentication experience. Furthermore, while more secure than passwords, second-factor schemes still fail to provide sufficient protection against (single-use) phishing attacks.