Skip to main content

The WiKID Blog

Viewing posts tagged Mutual Authentication

How do I set up Mutual HTTPS Authentication?

Mutual HTTPS Authentication can add a lot of security to your two-factor authentication setup by thwarting most network-based MiTM attacks.  Here are somethings to consider:

11 Top tips for two-factor authentication

For a long time I have been meaning to pull together some of the top tips when setting up two-factor authentication. I expect this will be a moving target. Obviously, two-factor authentication is central to your network deployment, so even if that PCI QSA is breathing down your throat, take some time to do a bit of planning!

Authentication isn't strong without encryption

A few days ago, Twilio posted about using their SMS service to "Build a Phone-based Two-Factor Authentication" (sic). As we have noted before, SMS-based systems are technically better than static passwords, but SMS-based authentication schemes seem to be proliferating without any consideration given to their relative security.  Twilio seems like a great service and this post shows how easy it is to use, but I think this post deserves a response, lest developers add insecure code to their application or are left with false impressions about the security of their authentication mechanisms.

Do factors really factor anymore?

In the old days, two-factor authentication was quite simple. It was defined as using more than one of 1. Something you know; 2. Something you have or 3. Something you are. This definition seemed to work well for us for some time. Now, however, it is seriously fraying. Why? Consider this:

Single-site browser

Read Jeremiah Grossman's post about "A Single-Site Browser’s impact on XSS, CSRF, and Clickjacking".  The benefits of using a Single-Site Browser are clear: reduced risk of XSS, CSRF and Clickjacking.  So, why isn't every bank in the world and every user of SSL-VPNs not deploying single-site browsers?

Recent Posts

Archive

2024
2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

Categories

Tags

Authors

Feeds

RSS / Atom