PGP Based RSA Encryption for MFA in Web Applications

Murugesan, Ragul (2024) PGP Based RSA Encryption for MFA in Web Applications. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This thesis explores a novel approach to two-factor authentication (2FA) through encryption/decryption-based methodologies, utilizing the robustness of public key cryptography to secure user authentication. Traditional 2FA uses methodologies like SMS or authenticator applications, which are variably prone to attack via SIM swapping, interception, and other forms of compromise. It relies on asymmetric encryption that individual pairs generate their own personal public/private key sets, ensuring that only the legitimate user can decrypt the authentication challenge proposed by the server. This implies that one-time passwords are replaced by means of a PGP-based challenge-response process, enhancing the underlying security without even leaving a slim chance for other vulnerable channels. Such techniques include key generation, message signing, and verification proving the above system to be resilient and another method apart from the usual or standard forms of the 2FA methods. This gives strong protection against phishing and replay attacks. Hence, this encryption-based 2FA mechanism is preferred in applications that require high security and user data privacy.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Supervisors:	Name Email Prior, Michael UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Encryption; Decryption; OpenPGP; 2FA; Authentication; Comparing
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > Electronic computers. Computer science T Technology > T Technology (General) > Information Technology > Electronic computers. Computer science Q Science > QA Mathematics > Computer software > Computer Security T Technology > T Technology (General) > Information Technology > Computer software > Computer Security
Divisions:	School of Computing > Master of Science in Cyber Security
Depositing User:	Ciara O'Brien
Date Deposited:	25 Jul 2025 15:24
Last Modified:	25 Jul 2025 15:24
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/8230

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