Authentication

While designed to prevent outsiders from getting access to our private information, passwords aren't completely foolproof. Create a simple password and hackers can easily crack it. Enter a complicated one, and you may forget it and have to reset your password anyway. It's a huge hassle that most of us would like to avoid, but thanks to cyber attacks we don't have much of a choice. But what if I said you could do away with passwords altogether and still keep your information secure?

Developers at PUFFIN say it's possible and are conducting vast amounts of research and experimentation to that end. Interestingly enough, they're using graphic cards as their means of user authentication. One wouldn't normally think of a direct connection between graphic cards, but apparently there’s valid reasoning behind this choice. What it comes down to is something called PUF and how it comes as the unintentional result of manufacturing. Every card contains slight manufacturing differences. Moreover, there can be differentiation between graphic cards because of the naturally unpredictable nature of PUF. Couple those factors together and you end up with the ability for graphic cards to be user specific. In other words, the graphic card acts as a unique “fingerprint” for every user.

In a similar vein, developers at DARPA are looking into what they call Active Authorization. There isn't a lot of information readily available about this controversial project, but from is known, it can be determined that biometrics lie at the core of everything. DARPA even goes as far as the make the claim that you can just be yourself when it comes to your computer or mobile device. The machine will be able to see your actions and recognize you as you. Apparently we all have different user specific actions that will aid in the process. Supposedly if another user tries to use the device under your name, they will be identified immediately as someone else and their access will be altered or the system will lock them out completely.

In a world full of identity theft and anonymity on the Internet, it's necessary to have some form of security. The problem is some forms have turned out to be more complicated than desired. With the goal of making things more user friendly, both PUFFIN and DARPA stand the chance of being handy. However, due to the fact that multiple issues have been raised about the suitability of both endeavors there are questions if they are truly as secure as they would have us believe. Both PUFFIN and DARPA claim that everything is more secure than anti-virus software programs because it is uniquely you. However, the fact that Active Authorization still needs large amounts of data from each user, doesn't give a lot of confidence. Only time will tell if these forms of authorization will remain and flourish or completely flop.