NETWORKED COMPUTER IDENTITY ENCRYPTION AND VERIFICATION

摘要

A method for communication includes initiating a communication session over a network between a remote computer (24) and a local computer (20), which has a central processing unit (CPU) (40) and an input device (30). A record is stored at the remote computer of an identification code that is associated with the input device of the local computer and is inaccessible to the CPU. When data input by a user to the local computer is received via the input device, a cryptographic signature over the data and the identification code is generated at the local computer using a processor (46) other than the CPU. The signature is transmitted to the remote computer and is decrypted at the remote computer in order to authenticate the data.