System and methods for online authentication
A method of establishing a communication channel between a network client and a computer server over a network is described. The network client may be configured to communicate with the computer server over the network and to communicate with a token manager. The token manager may be configured with a parent digital certificate that is associated with the token manager. The token manager or network client generates a credential from the parent digital certificate, and transmits the credential to the computer server. The credential may be associated with the computer server. The network client may establish the communications channel with the computer server in accordance with an outcome of a determination of validity of the credential by the computer server.
1. A method of establishing a communication channel between a network client and a computer server over a network, the network client being configured to communicate with the computer server over the network and to communicate with a token manager, the token manager being configured with a parent digital certificate associated with the token manager, the method comprising:
one of the token manager and the network client generating a credential from the parent digital certificate, the credential being associated with the computer server, wherein the parent digital certificate includes a public encryption key, and wherein generating the credential comprises:
the token manager generating a pseudo-random code; and
the one of the token manager and the network client generating a child digital certificate from the parent digital certificate;
incorporating the pseudo-random code in the child digital certificate; and
the one of the token manager and the network client signing the child digital certificate with a private encryption key unique to the token manager and uniquely associated with the public encryption key,
wherein the private encryption key and the public encryption key comprise an asymmetric encryption key pair, and wherein the credential comprises the signed child digital certificate;
the one of the token manager and the network client transmitting the credential to the computer server; and
the network client establishing the communications channel with the computer server in accordance with, an outcome of a determination of validity of the credential by the computer server.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the credential generating comprises the one of the token manager and the network client receiving data from a hardware token, interfaced with the token manager, and incorporating the data of the hardware token into the credential.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the credential generating comprises the one of the token manager and the network client receiving data from a hardware token, interfaced with the token manager, comparing the data of the hardware token with expected data, and generating the credential in accordance with an outcome of the hardware token data comparing.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the credential generating comprises the one of the token manager and the network client receiving the expected data from the computer server.
5. The method, according to claim 1 , further comprising the one of the token manager and the network client receiving a session token from the computer server, and the credential generating comprises the one of the token manager and the network client incorporating the session token into the child digital certificate.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the pseudo-random code is verifiable by the computer server.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the parent digital certificate is uniquely associated with the token manager and the computer server.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the establishing the communications channel comprises receiving a server digital certificate from the computer server, and establishing a mutually-authenticated encrypted communications channel using the server digital certificate after the one of the token manager and the network client validates the server digital certificate.
9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising, prior to establishing the encrypted communications channel, the one of the token manager and the network client receiving a signed message from the computer server and authenticating the computer server by verifying the signed message from the server digital certificate, and the credential generating comprises the one of the token manager and the network client generating the credential in accordance with an outcome of the computer server authenticating.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the digitally-signed message includes a server pseudo-random code, and the computer server authenticating comprises the one of the token manager and the network client comparing the server pseudo-random code with a pseudo-random code expected for the computer server.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer processing instructions stored thereon for execution by a computer, the computer processing instructions, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to perform the method of claim 1 .
12. A communications device comprising;
an interface configured to interface the communications device to a computer;
a memory storing a parent digital certificate associated with the communications device; and
a data processor coupled to the interface and the memory, the data processor being configured to:
(i) generate a credential from the parent digital certificate, the credential being associated with a computer server in communication with the computer, wherein the parent digital certificate includes a public encryption key, and wherein in order to generate the credential, the data processor is configured to:
generate a pseudo-random code,
generate a child digital certificate from the parent digital certificate,
incorporate the pseudo-random code in the child digital certificate, and
sign the child digital certificate with a private encryption key unique to the communications device and uniquely associated with the public encryption key,
wherein the private encryption key and the public encryption key comprise an asymmetric encryption key pair, and wherein the credential comprises the signed child digital certificate;
(ii) initiate transmission of the credential to the computer server; and
(iii) facilitate establishment of a communications channel between the computer and the computer server in accordance with an outcome of a determination of validity of the credential by the computer server.
13. A method of establishing a communication channel between a network client and a computer server over a network, the network client being configured to communicate with the computer server over the network and to communicate with a token manager, the token manager being configured with a parent digital certificate associated with the token manager, the method comprising:
the computer server receiving a credential from one of the token manager and the network client;
the computer server determining a validity of the credential, the determining the validity of the credential comprising verifying that the credential comprises a child digital certificate that incorporates a pseudo-random code generated by the token manager, that the child digital certificate is generated from the parent digital certificate, and that the credential is associated with the computer server, wherein the parent digital certificate includes a public encryption key, wherein the determining the validity of the credential comprises verifying that the credential was signed with a private encryption key unique to the token manager and uniquely associated with the public encryption key, the private encryption key and the public encryption key comprising an asymmetric encryption key pair; and
in accordance with an outcome of the determining the validity of the credential, the computer server establishing the communications channel with the network client.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the credential comprises data associated with a hardware token interfaced with the token manager, and the determining the validity of the credential comprises comparing the data of the hardware token with expected data.
15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising transmitting a session token from the computer server to the one of the token manager and the network client, and the determining the validity of the credential comprises comparing the transmitted session token with a session token included in the credential.
16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the determining the validity of the credential comprises comparing the pseudo-random code included in the credential with an expected pseudo-random code,
17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the determining the validity of the credential comprises verifying that the credential is uniquely associated with the token manager and the computer server.
18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the establishing the communications channel comprises, in accordance with the outcome of the determining the validity of the credential, the computer server transmitting a server digital certificate to the network client and establishing a mutually-authenticated encrypted communications channel with the network client using the credential and the server digital certificate.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer processing instructions stored thereon for execution by a computer, the computer processing instructions, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to perform the method of claim 14 .