As remote access of computer systems and applications grows in popularity, the number and variety of transactions which are accessed remotely over public networks such as the Internet has increased dramatically. This popularity has underlined a need for security; in particular: how to ensure that people who are remotely accessing an application are who they claim they are, how to ensure that transactions being conducted remotely are initiated by legitimate individuals, and how to ensure that transaction data have not been altered before being received at an application server.
In the past, application providers have relied on static passwords to provide the security for remote applications. In recent years it has become evident that static passwords are not sufficient and that more advanced security technology is required.
Alternatives to the well-known static-password authentication method should preferably be cost effective, reliable and user convenient.