The DS1954 Cryptographic iButton is the latest and most advanced in
a series of iButtons. We call the Cryptographic iButton a "very personal
computer" (VPC) for several reasons:
- It keeps personal information private as it travels over the very-public
Internet--even if the client computer, software, and communication links
are not trustworthy.
- It contains many of the fundamental elements of the PC: a microprocessor,
a math accelerator, secure memory and a true time clock.
- Unlike the PC on your desk, the VPC can be worn as a digital accessory:
it is available as part of the Electronic Wallet and the Digital Decoder
Ring. It can also be worn on a badge or carried on a key fob.
The Cryptographic iButton features very strong cryptography and has
three immediate applications:
- Secure email: iButton users can have universal access to their email
from public connections-such as hotels, airports, and satellite offices-and
still be confident that their mail is private.
- Internet commerce: The iButton can store and manage units of value
(such as money).
- Remote login authentication: So-called road warriors can access corporate
databases directly from their PCs. iButtons can perform the sophisticated
challenge and response authentication typically required to access sensitive
information.
Additional Information:
Press Release: Gives a good general overview
of the device and its uses.
Cryptographic iButton Zeroization: Explains how
the Crypto iButton erases the memory when tampering is detected.
Software Development Tools: Overviews the
development tools available to support the Crypto iButton.
iButton Array Features: Describes the use of multiple
iButtons mounted on a SIMM to free a server CPU from the high computational
overhead of Public Key Cryptography when doing a high volume of transactions.
DS9110 iButton Array Technical Information
Dot Receptor: Describes a $15 device that
is plugged into the printer port of a PC to allow communication with the
iButton.
Secure Web E-Mail: Demonstration
of a secure e-mail service using Crypto iButtons
Copyright© 1996 Dallas Semiconductor Corporation