Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications

    Bell Labs Takes Stab at True Single Sign-On

    By
    Dennis Fisher
    -
    August 12, 2002
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      A new online authentication technology developed by researchers at Lucent Technologies Inc.s Bell Labs could finally make true single sign-on in the enterprise a reality. In addition, it has the potential to add tighter security to similar sign-on efforts by the Liberty Alliance Project and Microsoft Corp.

      The software, called Factotum, is unique in that all user credentials are stored on the network, allowing users to access them as needed via PCs or other devices. No user names and passwords are stored on client machines.

      While Bell Labs developers said they dont intend for Factotum to compete with Microsofts Passport or solutions built on the Liberty Alliance specification, the software has features and functions that make it a compelling complementary technology.

      “There are quite a few pieces that could be relevant,” said Eric Grosse, director of networked computing research at Bell Labs, in Murray Hills, N.J. “Theyre solving a slightly different problem than we are.”

      Originally written for Bell Labs Plan 9 operating system, Factotum is easily ported to other platforms, including Windows, Solaris, Linux and Unix, according to the researchers.

      The software comprises two pieces, Secure Store and Factotum. To set up the services, users type into Secure Store the various user names and passwords for the Web sites they frequent. This data is protected through Advanced Encryption Standard and is then stored on the network.

      To retrieve this data, users enter a password in the Factotum software that runs on their client machines. Using a new protocol Bell Labs developed called Password Authenticated Key Exchange, the software retrieves the requested key from the network.

      Once on the users machine, the keys are stored in RAM, rather than on the hard drive, and are deleted as soon as the machine is switched off.

      “What has struck me as interesting and unique about the whole deal is the approach to security where there is no root,” said David Nicol, professor of computer science at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H., and director of research and development at Dartmouths Institute for Security Technology Studies.

      In the new approach, Nicol said, a user has rights to modify keys, but no one else. “The user delegates his rights to an agent,” he said.

      Bell Labs made the software available for free download last week. The company has no plans to sell the software.

      “The main thing is we have a scheme that doesnt require massive deployment,” Grosse said. “You could deploy it on the department level and move on incrementally from there.”

      Security insiders see Factotum as a good first step.

      “The underlying concepts are very useful,” said Arvind Krishna, vice president of security products at IBMs Tivoli Software group, in Austin, Texas. “Like storing keys only in RAM, using strong cryptography. But they need to get to the next level and populate the Web sites with the user information.”

      Liberty Alliance members plan to use the Liberty specification to create a trust system that gives users the ability to share their identity information with multiple Web sites without having to log in to each one separately.

      Liberty officials, however, were noncommittal.

      “It is important to work to ensure interoperability … in the areas of network identity and Web services,” a Liberty Alliance spokesman said.

      Dennis Fisher

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×