Readiness of Anonymous Credentials for Real Environment Deployment

Abstract

Attribute-based Credentials (ABCs) are a promising technology for protecting users’ privacy and digital identity. We can use ABCs in a multitude of contexts. For instance, we can prove the validity of transportation tickets, demonstrate the legal age, prove the health status, or certify access rights in the company environment. All of this, we can do without disclosing complete personal identity. Nevertheless, ABCs generally require computational power that some wearable devices cannot cope with. In this paper, we present our implementation of a privacy-enhancing authentication system based on ABCs technology. The system is suitable for deployment in real-world scenarios and uses a wide range of differently powerful user devices (e.g., smart cards, smartphones, and wearables). Based on our implementation results, we also discuss the implementations aspects of ABCs, their readiness, and usability in real-world applications.