Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!aurs01!whitcomb
From: whitcomb@aurs01.UUCP (Jonathan Whitcomb)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: What do you think about security functions in modems?
Message-ID: <59727@aurs01.UUCP>
Date: 12 Apr 91 18:10:29 GMT
References: <1991Apr4.144615.22814@dce.ie> <1991Apr6.152822.4628@dramba.neis.oz> <37@mgsscsg.UUCP>
Sender: news@aurs01.UUCP
Reply-To: whitcomb%aurgate@mcnc.org (Jonathan Whitcomb)
Organization: Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh NC
Lines: 25

In article <37@mgsscsg.UUCP> zuck@mgsscsg.UUCP (Zuck Zuckerbrot) writes:
-just to throw my $.02 in, we here at motorola use a security system
-between our modems and the systems.  every user has a credit card sized
-device with an lcd display with a six digit number that changes randomly (?)
-once a minute.  to use it one dials in, connects with a modem, enters
-a four digit PIN followed by the number currently in the window.
-once validated, it allows you to pass through to the hosts.
- 
-it's made by security dynamics in boston and is called the "ace system"

Recently I was helping a friend (a modem and computer novice) learn to
use a telecommunications package and modem to log into the computer
where she works (Glaxo, in RTP, NC).  They use the number
generating cards that Zuck mentioned.  I am very curious how these
work.  Do all of the cards display the same number at the same
time, or does the computer have a quick way to compute what number
will be on the specific caller's card (based on the PIN)?  If either
of these schemes are valid, those cards have to be _very_ accurate.

Can anyone fill us in on how this works?

**********************************************************************
Jonathan Whitcomb                    UUCP: <whitcomb%aurgate@mcnc.org>
Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh, NC                    Delphi: JBWHIT