Techniques for user-validated close-range mutual authentication

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• receiving encoded connection information at a close-range input device of a client mode electronic device from a server mode electronic device;
• decoding the encoded connection information into one or more connection elements;
• establishing a communication connection with the server mode electronic device utilizing the connection elements;
• receiving authentication information at the client mode electronic device via the communication connection;
• authenticating the server mode electronic device to the client mode electronic device utilizing the authentication information;
• and
• generating one or more authentication elements responsive to authentication of the server mode electronic device for presentation via a close-range output device of the client mode electronic device, the one or more authentication elements configured to confirm authentication of the client mode electronic device to the server mode electronic device.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a close-range input device;
• a close-range output device;
• a transceiver;
• a processor circuit communicatively coupled to the close-range input device, the close-range output device, and the transceiver;
• and
• a memory unit communicatively coupled to the processor circuit, the memory unit to store a mutual authentication application operative on the processor circuit to authenticate a server mode electronic device, the mutual authentication application comprising:
• a device connection component operative to receive encoded connection information from the server mode electronic device at the close-range input device, decode the connection information into one or more connection elements, and establish a communication connection with the server mode electronic device via the transceiver utilizing the one or more connection elements;
• an authentication information component operative to receive authentication information from the server mode electronic device via the communication connection;
• a device authentication component operative to authenticate the server mode electronic device utilizing the authentication information;
• and
• a user verification component operative to generate one or more authentication elements responsive to authentication of the server mode electronic device for presentation via the close-range output device, the one or more authentication elements configured to confirm authentication of the server mode electronic device.

At least one computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

• generate encoded connection information at a close-range output device of a server mode electronic device;
• transmit one or more authentication messages comprising authentication information associated with the server mode electronic device to a client mode electronic device;
• receive one or more authentication messages confirming authentication of the server mode electronic device at the client mode electronic device;
• generate one or more authentication elements for presentation on a display of the server mode electronic device, the one or more authentication elements configured to authenticate the client mode electronic device to the server mode electronic device;
• and
• authenticate the client mode electronic device to the server mode electronic device responsive to receiving verified authentication input indicating verification of the authentication elements.