VASCO To Integrate Strong Host Authentication Into DIGIPASS Devices

VASCO Data Security International, a software security company specialising in authentication products, has announced that it will be integrating strong host authentication into DIGIPASS 250, 260 and 270 and will make the same available in the third quarter of this year. Strong host authentication is VASCO’s technology offering an enhanced One-Time Password (OTP) solution. Strong host authentication combined with e-signature offers an effective solution against identity theft and Man-in-the-Middle attacks.

The advantage of strong host authentication is that the end-user can ensure himself that the bank or organisation he is connecting to is actively involved in the communication process. For banks and other organisations, it offers the possibility to know in real-time whether their customers or users might have been the victim of online identity theft. Strong host authentication makes it even more difficult for hackers to intercept end-user credentials without first contacting the bank or other organisation in real-time and attempting to obtain user credentials on a one-to-one basis.

Strong host authentication works as follows:

- When the user wants to access a secure website, he will provide his claimed identity using his username.
- The server from the bank or other organisation will provide the user with a time-based host One-Time Password (OTP). This host OTP is unique for the DIGIPASS authenticator the end-user is using and is only valid for a limited time.
- The user will enter the host OTP on his DIGIPASS authenticator.
- The DIGIPASS will verify the host OTP.
- When it is correct, the DIGIPASS will generate a user OTP.
- The user will use this user OTP to log on to the application.

If the host-OTP verification fails, the DIGIPASS will refuse to generate a user OTP.

DIGIPASS 250, 260 and 270 are pin-pad authenticators offering two-factor authentication and e-signature capability. End-users have a PIN-code to activate the DIGIPASS, once the PIN-code is entered onto the device and the host OTP is verified by the authenticator, a dynamic password will be generated.