>From NewsScan, which is sort of a follow-on thing from the people who used to do Edupage (John Gehl & Suzanne Douglas): <. . . .> ARCOT PLANS TO OUTSMART SMART CARDS Internet startup Arcot Systems is advocating a new approach to buying over the Internet. Arcot's software authenticates transactions that can be sent to any PC with a Web browser, eliminating the need for extra equipment such as "smart card" readers. The technology uses an approach known as "chaffing and winnowing," whereby the important information (a user's password) is hidden in unrelated gibberish in order to protect it. "It's like protecting your house by hiding a million keys under your doorstep," says a security expert who's studied the system. "Only you know which is the right one." Arcot plans to give away the PC software, while selling the server programs to companies that process confidential data, such as medical or financial records. (Wall Street Journal 25 May 99) http://wsj.com/ <. . . .> ************************************************************ Copyright 1999. NewsScan Daily (R) is a publication of NewsScan.com, which also produces Innovation Weekly, covering trends, strategies and innovations in business and technology. They have a website with some press releases and other things dated may 25, 1999 at: http://www.arcot.com. They have a testimonial from Bruce Schneier and they reference Prof. Rivest's paper on chaffing & winnowing.
