Re: [OT] Is "Authentification" a Real Word?

From: Casey Schaufler (casey@sgi.com)
Date: 04/26/02 

From: Casey Schaufler <casey@sgi.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 13:49:52 -0700

Alun Jones wrote:

> Unless, that is, Ms De Alvare has a different meaning for authentification
> than authentication already possesses, and if that's the case, then I still
> have a beef, in that it's a really bad idea to use two similar (and often
> confused) words for concepts in the same field.

Authentification is a combination of identification and
authentication. In the case where authentication information
is self-identifying (numbered bank account) the word should
not be used. In other cases (username/password) the
identification and authentication are seperate, and the
process of identification (looking up the username) and
authentication (checking the passwd) are different. Thus,
it would be improper to authentificate an numbered bank
account, but proper to authentificate a computer user.

The word authentification is much like I18N, a shortcut.
Perhaps it should be a contraction, authent'if'ication.
Maybe not. Anyhow, it's cute and reasonably harmless
insider jargon. 

-- 

Casey Schaufler				Manager, Trust Technology, SGI
casey@sgi.com				voice: 650.933.1634
casey_p@pager.sgi.com			Pager: 877.557.3184

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