Authentication

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== Examples ==
== Examples ==
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* Authentication is important in connection with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknote banknotes]. Paper money is useful only if it is not easily forgeable. Ideally, it should be issued by a single trusted principal. The authentication can determine that this is the case. Electronic currency has to have a similar property.
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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknote Banknotes], for example, can also be viewed as "one end of a communcation channel". One end is in the central bank. The other one is held by some person. Through this channel, someone states that the holder of a given banknote has a certain amount of money. The authentication procedure here is important because it reveals whether this statement is claimed by the central bank.
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* Authentication enables us to determine that a given principal probably issued a given document.
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* Authentication enables us to determine that a given principal probably published a given program.
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Revision as of 09:54, 26 July 2009

Definition

Given one end of a communication channel, authentication procedure establishes which principal is probably at the other end.

Examples

Banknotes, for example, can also be viewed as "one end of a communcation channel". One end is in the central bank. The other one is held by some person. Through this channel, someone states that the holder of a given banknote has a certain amount of money. The authentication procedure here is important because it reveals whether this statement is claimed by the central bank.

Retrieved from "http://wiki.erights.org/wiki/Authentication"
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