Introduction to Authentication
•
What is authentication?
•
How do Digital IDs work?
* Netscape
Navigator hung when I submitted my request and when I tried to install my
Digital ID it didn't work.
* I
have enrolled for a Digital ID but when I look in my security options it does
not show up.
* I
got the E-mail with my PIN but I accidentally deleted it before copying my PIN.
* My
PIN does not appear to work.
* When
I try to download my Digital ID I get the message "private key not
found".
* I
deleted Microsoft Internet Explorer and installed the latest version. How do I
reinstall my Digital ID?
* I
deleted Netscape Navigator and installed the latest version. How do I reinstall
my Digital ID?
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What is authentication?
Authentication
allows the receiver of a digital message to be confident of both the identity
of the sender and the integrity of the message.
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How
do Digital IDs work?
Digital
IDs use public key encryption techniques that use two related keys, a public
key and a private key. In public key encryption, the public key is made
available to anyone who wants to correspond with the owner of the key pair. The
public key can be used to verify a message signed with the private key or
encrypt messages that can only be decrypted using the private key. The security
of messages encrypted this way relies on the security of the private key, which
must be protected against unauthorized use.
A
Digital ID is signed by the Certification Authority that issued the Digital ID.
Multiple digital certificates can be attached to a message or transaction,
forming a certification chain where each Digital ID testifies to the
authenticity of the previous Digital ID. The top-level certification authority
must be independently known and trusted by the recipient.
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Netscape
Navigator hung when I submitted my request and when I tried to install my
Digital ID it didn't work.
When
you click the Submit button in the final enrollment page, Navigator sends your
Digital ID request and prompts you to specify whether or not you want to enter
a password. If you click the Cancel button in this dialog box, Navigator
assumes that you want to cancel the entire process and deletes your private
key. However, your request has already been sent and a Digital ID generated in
response. Because the private key associated with this Digital ID no longer
exists, it cannot be installed into Navigator. As a result, canceling out of
the password screen causes a long delay and sometimes causes Navigator to hang.
Netscape is aware of this problem and it will be addressed in upcoming versions
of Navigator. Because the private key is deleted when you cancel out of the
password dialog box, attempting to install your Digital ID using will also
fail.
To
get a Digital ID you will need to complete a new Digital ID enrollment request.
Because duplicate Digital IDs are not issued, when you complete the enrollment
form for your new Digital ID, you will need to alter the way you enter your name
in some way, such as by adding a middle initial or writing your name in all
capital letters.
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I
have enrolled for a Digital ID but when I look in my security options it does
not show up.
If
you did not enter a nickname when saving your Digital ID, then the Digital ID
may not appear in your security menu despite being saved in Navigator. Simply
click the View button to display the entire Digital ID.
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I
got the E-mail with my PIN but I accidentally deleted it before copying my PIN.
The
E-mail response to a Digital ID enrollment is automatic. Unfortunately, we
cannot regenerate the PIN information. You will have to enroll for a new
Digital ID. Since a Digital ID has already been generated in your name, and
since we cannot generate two identical Digital IDs, you will have to alter your
name in some way (e.g. add a middle initial or give your name in all capital
letters) in order to get a new PIN sent to your E-mail address.
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My
PIN does not appear to work.
If
possible, use the "copy" and "paste" commands from the Edit
menu to copy your PIN from the E-mail you received and paste it into the field
on the page you use to get your Digital ID. If copying and pasting does not
work with your software, and you must type the PIN, make sure:
the
PIN includes 16 or 32 characters
the
characters include only the numerals 0 (zero) through 9 and the letters A
through F
there
are no spaces before, after, or within the PIN
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When
I try to download my Digital ID I get the message "private key not
found".
When
you retrieve your Digital ID, we automatically check to make sure that the
private key created in your hard drive during enrollment matches the public key
in your Digital ID. In order for these to match, you must be using the same web
browser, in the same directory, on the same computer as you were when you
requested the Digital ID.
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