Tokyo, July 22, 2005 --- NEC Corporation today announced that it
has developed the world's most efficient privacy preserving
authentication scheme (or group signature scheme *note 1) in terms
of signature length and computational complexity, social
infrastructure vital to both the privacy protection of individuals
and security within a networked society. Group signature schemes
have been long sought after as they are believed to fulfill
security and privacy needs simultaneously, i.e. they enable
authorization of a user, without identifying the user, thus
allowing the user a certain amount of anonymity. It is believed
that these schemes may be applied to many systems in the future in
which user anonymity is required such as in anonymous credential
systems, and video/book rental systems, among others.
The main characteristics of a privacy preserving authentication
scheme are:
(1) Enables verification of individuals belonging to a limited
group who have authorized access, without actually identifying the
user by an ID or personal name etc, reducing the risk of
information leaks and protecting the hoarding of surplus personal
information. (2) Identification of the authenticated individual is
only allowed by special authorities (specified administrators). As
a result, disorderly and unjust use of anonymity is prevented as
these authorities can revoke anonymity.
NEC's authentication scheme realizes the world's shortest
authentication data length through the development of a new,
original algorithm. Moreover, it has been verified as highly secure
while simultaneously carrying out efficient creation and
verification of authentication data by the world's most efficient
computational complexity realized by the adoption of cryptographic
protocol technology. Early group signature schemes/authentication
schemes required large computational cost and long signature
lengths; however, NEC's technological breakthrough enables shorter
signature lengths at minimum cost.
Anonymous authentication schemes may enable, for example, a credit
card transaction system with reduced risk of personal information
leaks. This is mainly because a usual credit card transaction can
be carried out at a retail premises by verifying that a user has an
official contract with a certain credit card company, without
providing the information terminal in the retail premises with the
card no. or personal information of the user, however, the credit
card company itself (administrator) can identify the holder of the
credit card making the payment. Essentially, information is hidden
from certain parties, who should not have access to the
information. This kind of technology can also be applied to loan
systems such as those in video shops or libraries to protect the
privacy of the borrower.
NEC's newly developed group signature scheme enables the world's
most efficient signature length and computational complexity,
proving security, and bringing the technology one more step closer
to business model application. NEC believes that this technology
will act as basic technology for next-generation solutions. This
new breakthrough has proven the basic functions of the algorithm,
and the next step for NEC is to verify practicality.
This development will provide NEC with the opportunity to apply its
research-level group signature technology to a real business model
application here forth.
* Notes
(1) Group signature scheme: Is
technology that enables a user to prove that he/she belongs to a
group without identifying himself. The scheme also realizes a
special authority (administrator) that can identify actual signers
in case of dispute. Group signatures have many applications in
which user anonymity is required (credential systems, renting
etc.).
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) is one of the
world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and
enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized
needs of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of
the world's top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored
solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron
devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks,
and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC
Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000
people worldwide and had net sales of 4,855 billion yen (approx.
$45.4 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 2005. For additional
information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com/*
Newsroom: http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/
NEC Press contacts:
In Japan
Diane Foley
NEC Corporation
d-foley@ax.jp.nec.com
+81-3-3798-6511