Offloading Authentication to an Authenticator

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with an electronic device, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising:

• providing an identity request addressed to a second electronic device;
• receiving, associated with the second electronic device, an identity response;
• when an authentication computer is unavailable, accessing, in memory in the electronic device, a predefined hash function and associated authentication parameters for an authentication technique;
• performing authentication to a network with the second electronic device based at least in part on the predefined hash function, wherein the authentication is compatible with the authentication technique;
• generating an encryption key;
• and
• establishing secure communication with the second electronic device by performing a four-way handshake with the second electronic device based at least in part on the encryption key.

A method for selectively perform authentication a network, comprising:

• by an electronic device:
• providing an identity request addressed to a second electronic device;
• receiving, associated with the second electronic device, an identity response;
• when an authentication computer is unavailable, accessing, in memory in the electronic device, a predefined hash function and associated authentication parameters for an authentication technique;
• performing the authentication with the second electronic device based at least in part on the predefined hash function, wherein the authentication is compatible with the authentication technique;
• generating an encryption key;
• and
• establishing secure communication with the second electronic device by performing a four-way handshake with the second electronic device based at least in part on the encryption key.