One-time authentication system

An authentication system including a plurality of electronic tags and at least one reader station for verifying an authenticity of an electronic tag;

• each of the electronic tags being associated with a respective unique identity and including:
• a memory including a first memory location for storing a pre-computed challenge and a second memory location for storing a pre-computed response that is associated with the pre-computed challenge;
• the first memory location being non-readable from outside the electronic tag;
• and
• an access circuit configured to only provide the pre-computed response stored in the second memory location in response to receiving a challenge that matches the pre-computed challenge stored in the first memory location;
• each of the reader stations being operative to, for an electronic tag:
• obtain the respective unique identity;
• determine for the respective unique identity a corresponding challenge;
• send the corresponding challenge to the electronic tag;
• receive a response from the electronic tag;
• and
• verify the authenticity of the electronic tag by comparing the received response to a response that is associated with the corresponding challenge.