Distributed communication security systems

Abstract

Solutions to the so-called “man in the middle” problem are disclosed. One example uses a mutually-random value that is the same for each of two communicants absent a man in the middle, but differs between the communicants in case a man-in-the-middle is present. Communicants become aware if their random values differ, for example, through stock content inserted into the communication stream, interactive games, or derived limitations on the channel. In other examples, opening of encrypted parts of the communication is delayed until certain other communication takes place and/or is imminent. In still further examples, a man in the middle becomes apparent because of increased latency of communication between the participants and the effect is optionally accentuated through mutually-random values that shift latency. Further aspects allow parties to apply authentication related to participants they have communicated with when they were convinced that no man in the middle was present. In some examples such communication between common participants is also applied and/or information about the origin of authentication information is hidden.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.