Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

SIM-Based WLAN Authentication for Open Platforms

Posted by timothy on from the are-you-who-you-say-you-are dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Using SIM for WLAN authentication may have many advantages, but security threats must also be carefully considered. This article by four members of Intel's 'Emerging Platforms Lab' provides a brief overview of the authentication process in a GSM network, and then describes a possible method of WLAN authentication using SIM cards. It also goes through various SIM security issues, and describes an assortment of reader attachments and their advantages and disadvantages."

7 comments

  1. SIM doing authentication? by Prince_Ali · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can't even get my SIMs to use the restroom unassisted. I will not put one in charge of security!

    --
    Slashdotter are stupid and biased.
  2. For Open platforms ? by ldrolez · · Score: 2, Insightful

    GSM is far from being open, so why using it for open platforms ???

    1. Re:For Open platforms ? by Urkki · · Score: 1
      Well, I didn't read the article either, but I don't think this has anything to do with GSM, other than that also GSM uses SIM-based authentication, and any SIM-based mobile authentication will be somewhat similar.

      Also, GSM authentication is already there, in use by hundreds of millions of people every day, something I'd call a proven technology. It makes sense to learn from that experience.

      And then a GSM-type SIM is cheap and common, because they're made in millions already for GSM phones, and it's suitable size too. So using the same kind of SIM (which, I believe, is actually a standard smart card type, not just GSM specific) is good idea.

    2. Re:For Open platforms ? by squiggleslash · · Score: 1
      GSM's pretty open. Until recently (probably still, it's a long time since I checked) you could even download the entire standard, as a huge collection of PDF files, for free (ETSI's site, I think, but it was about three years ago I had to grab this stuff)

      It has to be open, it's designed to be implemented by a variety of manufacturers and networks. Other than having to pay patent fees (applicable to any current wireless mobile telephony standard) there's nothing stopping anyone capable of building things based on the technologies from doing so without ever asking permission.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  3. In other news.... by Daniel+Wood · · Score: 1

    Nokia has filed suit against Intel for its Emerging Platforms Lab's purchase of a Sim card writer. Citing the intended use of the writer is the defrauding of cellular telecommunications companies which Nokia has contracts with.

    Still yet to come...
    DirectTV owners............

  4. last post!! by budalite · · Score: 1

    ta-da. (seemed probable...)