[cap-talk] Webkeys vs. the web

[Karp, Alan H]

Raoul Duke wrote:

> security and usability just don't go together well, as far as i know.

The projects we do in the Virus Safe Computing Initiative at HP Labs improve usability by adding security.

Polaris: by protecting the user if the application has a virus, enables you to turn off all the warning dialog boxes and turn on all the features, such as macros and scripting.

SCoopFS: by providing server authentication, client authorization, and encryption, lets the user collaborate without needing to think about phishing, spam, and snooping.

Anti-phishing toolbar (aka PassPet): by combining the petname tool with a password calculator, the user gets strong passwords and protection from keyloggers yet only clicks a button to log in.

________________________
Alan Karp
Principal Scientist
Virus Safe Computing Initiative
Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
1501 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 857-3967, fax (650) 857-7029
http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Alan_Karp