PlatinumSecret™ uses smart cards to implement
2-factor authentication and security on Windows PCs. To log
on to Windows, the user
must first insert his smart card and enter the smart card password,
and then progress to the Windows logon prompt. Smart card passwords
can be up to eight (case-sensitive alpha, numeric and symbol)
characters, allowing use of strong passwords, compared to 4-digit
PINs. (Future versions will implement single sign-on to Windows
XP.) Each user can only log on to the computer in which his
smartcard is enrolled (very strong security). The user can
also protect his data using file encryption (DES algorithm).
PlatinumSecret also offers the ability to store up to five
web-site credentials (userID, password) on the card, eliminating
the need to remember passwords and facilitating single-click
access to membership web-sites.
If you lose your card or forget your password,
the Emergency smartcard can be used to log on to the computer
and decrypt your files.
When
used with PlatinumPAS, the same smartcard is also used for
BIOS-level authentication during power up/restart.
PlatinumSecret is only available to PC OEMs for bundling
with their Notebook and desktop PCs. Smart cards for
additional users must be ordered from the
PC OEM.
