Aladdin locks down smart cards

Aladdin Knowledge Systems plans to release a smart-card token at the RSA Conference later this month that combines a one-time password generator, a system that aims to improve desktop security.

Smart-card tokens are keychain fobs that typically allow a person to log in to a corporate network and a variety of Web sites by inserting the token into a computer's USB (universal serial bus) port and typing in a single password. With a password generator, a person's password shifts from being static to a random number combined with a PIN (personal identification number). Ideally, this can provide greater security, said Leedor Agam, vice president of e-business and token solutions at Tel Aviv, Israel-based Aladdin. The RSA conference takes place the week of Feb. 23 in San Francisco.