Authentication

From Erights

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.