https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Tioexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-04-18T19:29:13ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1121:_Identity&diff=147001121: Identity2012-10-15T10:17:28Z<p>Tio: OTR</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1121<br />
| date = October 15, 2012<br />
| title = Identity<br />
| image = identity.png<br />
| imagesize = <br />
| titletext = Not sure why I just taught everyone to flawlessly impersonate me to pretty much anyone I know. Just remember to constantly bring up how cool it is that birds are dinosaurs and you'll be set.<br />
}}<br />
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==Explanation==<br />
<br />
Cueball lost server password and is asking Megan what it is. Megan correctly comments, that she can't be sure over the phone it's really Cueball asking that - it could be someone inpersoning him in an attempt of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_engineering_%28security%29 Social Engineering]. Cueball answers by starting to develop a cryptographic protocol they can use for proof of identity, probably something like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-the-Record_Messaging OTR Messaging] as implemented in many XMPP chat clients or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feige%E2%80%93Fiat%E2%80%93Shamir_identification_scheme Feige–Fiat–Shamir identification scheme] (in reality, it would be already too late for that - they should've prepare something beforehand). Before he even finish, Megan answers "It's you", meaning that no one other is so geeky to answer like that. Cueball wants to stop her, probably because he would really enjoy that proof of identity construction.<br />
<br />
{{Incomplete}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Cueball: Hey, I lost the server password. What is it, again?<br />
<br />
:Megan: It's&mdash; ...Wait. How do I know it's really you?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: OOH, good question! I bet we can construct a cool proof-of-identity protocol. I'll start by picking two random&mdash;<br />
:Megan(on phone):Oh good; it's you. Here's the password...<br />
:Cueball: NO!<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}} <br />
<!-- Include any categories below this line--><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]</div>Tio