Faculty Recruiting Support CICS

EMC Day in CS

Don't miss the EMC research talk on September 25, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. in CS 151.

"Wireless Authentication Token Protocols"
Daniel Bailey, Senior Research Scientist, EMC/RSA Laboratories
Introduction by James Pearson, EMC Vice President (and UMass Amherst alum)

Abstract:

Motivated by the difficulties of static passwords, we explore the security and usability benefits of equipping users with an extremely limited, wireless (radio-frequency), output-only device. While it may seem counter-intuitive that a token that accepts no inputs and broadcasts its output using an untrusted medium can provide any security benefits, we propose and analyze a family of authentication and encryption protocols using a unidirectional token. Since unidirectional security devices seem mostly unexplored in the literature, we appeal to analysis frameworks for established protocols like Bellare and Rogaway's AKE. We additionally offer protocols of increasing cryptographic sophistication while still relying on a unidirectional token. Our prototype wireless security-token works with standard, Wi-Fi-enabled personal computers and requires no special-purpose hardware or drivers. Thanks to a new tunneling protocol, our token allows a computer to conduct an ongoing conventional 802.11 session and simultaneously receive token emissions.

About Daniel Bailey:

Dan Bailey is a Senior Research Scientist at RSA Laboratories, part of the Security Division of EMC. At RSA Labs, Dan's research interests include security for wireless devices and next-generation authenticators. In addition, Dan has been a leader in standardization efforts including serving as chairman of the ZigBee Alliance security working group, contributing co-editor for security of IEEE 802.15.3, and author of portions of the IEEE 1363a and 802.15.4 standards. Dan holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Computer Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Refreshments will be provided at the talk. EMC iPod and other giveaways will be raffled off after the talk.


EMC researchers will also be available prior to the talk in the CS atrium from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EMC will also give a technical talk in Engineering in the afternoon of September 25th.