6. Glossary

Authentifieur; authenticator

An authenticator is a hardware and software device containing one or more secrets entrusted to a legitimate user for authentication purposes. It combines a physical medium such as a smart card, USB key or smartphone, software and an individual credential.

Crédentiel; credential

A credential is a secret numerical value (or several) that enables the user to provide proof of his or her identity: password, password fingerprint, cryptographic key, certificate, coding table (matrix), mathematical representation of fingerprint, etc. The credential is generally stored on the user's individual physical authentication medium, and in a database of authorized users on the server's side. The credential is generally stored on an individual physical authentication medium on the user side, and in a database...