Method for authenticating the identity of a user of an information system

摘要

Secure hardware is provided for cryptographically generating a verification pattern which is a function of a potential computer user's identity number, the potential computer user's separately entered password, and a stored test pattern. The test pattern for each authorized computer user is generated at a time when the physical security of the central computer and its data can be assured, such as in a physically guarded environment with no teleprocessing facilities operating. Secure hardware for generating verification patterns during authentication processing and for generating test patterns during the secure run is disclosed which uses a variation of the host computer master key to reduce risk of compromise of total system security. The use of a variant of the host master key prevents system programmers and/or computer operators from compromising the integrity of the authentication data base by, for example, interchanging entries and/or inserting new entries.