Establishing trust without revealing identity

A system comprising:

• a first device coupled with a second device and a target device, the second device seeking to access the target device, the first device to
• pre-compute values in a first proof corresponding to a first statement, the values are pre-computed based on information received from the second device, the first statement having a first key to a target device that the second device is seeking to access, wherein pre-computing includes selecting a parameter, and based on the parameter, verifying trust between the second device and the target device,
• receive a proof request from the second device,
• verify validity of the first proof, and generate a second proof based on the values, the second proof corresponding to a second statement, the second statement having a second key to the target device,
• send the second proof to the second device, the second proof revealing trustworthiness of the target device without revealing identity of the target device, and
• establish trust between the target device and the second device, the second device to access the target device, wherein the trust is established via a direct proof protocol providing for one or more of constructing the first and second proofs randomly or pseudo-randomly, and constructing the first and second proofs by performing proof computation via the pre-computing values during a pre-computation stage.

A machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:

• pre-calculate values in a first proof corresponding to a first statement, the values are pre-computed at a first device based on information received from a second device, the first statement having a first key to a target device that the second device is seeking to access, wherein pre-computing includes selecting a parameter, and based on the parameter, verifying trust between the target device and the second device;
• receive a proof request from the second device;
• verify validity of the first proof, and generate a second proof based on the values, the second proof corresponding to a second statement, the second statement having a second key to the target device;
• send the second proof to the second device, the second proof revealing trustworthiness of the target device without revealing identity of the target device;
• and
• establish trust between the target device and the second device, the second device to access the target device, wherein the trust is established via a direct proof protocol providing for one or more of constructing the first and second proofs randomly or pseudo-randomly, and constructing the first and second proofs by performing proof computation via the pre-computing values during a pre-computation stage.