Secure authentication protocol systems and methods

An authentication method, comprising:

• during a pre-boot session:
• verifying, by an input device, a first authentication factor;
• storing, by the input device, the verified first authentication factor;
• storing, by the input device, a credential logically associated with a prior post-boot session;
• and
• verifying the prior post-boot session using a credential logically associated with an immediately previous post-boot environment that includes a defined change that includes incrementing or decrementing the immediately previous post-boot environment by a defined value;
• and
• during a current post-boot session:
• receiving, by an authentication engine, the prior post-boot session credential from the input device and verifying the prior post-boot session credential using the verified first authentication factor;
• and
• generating a current post-boot session credential that is logically associated with the current post-boot session.

An authentication system, comprising:

• means for verifying, during a pre-boot session, a first authentication factor;
• means for storing, during the pre-boot session, the verified first authentication factor;
• means for storing, during the pre-boot session, a credential logically associated with a prior post-boot session;
• means for verifying, during the pre-boot session, the prior post-boot session using a credential logically associated with an immediately previous post-boot environment that includes a defined change that includes incrementing or decrementing the immediately previous post-boot environment by a defined value;
• means for receiving, during a current post-boot session, the prior post-boot session credential;
• means for verifying, during the current post-boot session, the received prior post-boot session credential;
• and
• means for generating, during the current post-boot session, a credential that is logically associated with the post-boot session.

A storage device including machine-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more circuits, cause the one or more circuits to:

• during a pre-boot session:
• verify, via an input device, a first authentication factor;
• store, via the input device, the verified first authentication factor;
• store, via the input device, a credential logically associated with a prior post-boot session;
• and
• verify the prior post-boot session using a credential logically associated with an immediately previous post-boot environment that includes a defined change that includes incrementing or decrementing the immediately previous post-boot environment by a defined value;
• and
• during a current post-boot session:
• receive, by an authentication engine, the prior post-boot session credential from the input device and verifying the prior post-boot session credential using the verified first authentication factor;
• and
• generate a current post-boot session credential that is logically associated with the current post-boot session.