6. Conclusion

The quality/reliability approach is not as demanding in IT as it is in fields such as mechanics. Selling buggy software with a signed license releasing the programmer from any liability in the event of damage caused by the software doesn't frighten any publisher, whereas it would seem outrageous to buy a microwave oven or a car. While this can be explained in part by the multiplicity of media and possible interactions between software and hardware products, the trend is changing, particularly with regard to so-called critical software, i.e. software for which a flaw could have significant or serious human or financial consequences. This is the case for embedded computing in civil or military aerospace, or for information security (and therefore indirectly for commerce). Security protocols fall into the latter category, and the aim of the AVISPA platform is to successfully meet this need...