Abstract: A method is provided for auditing compliance of an electronic platform, referred to as the platform being tested, and/or a computer program being tested, which is present on the platform being tested. The method includes the following steps: transmitting the same data set, via an auditing device, to the platform being tested, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to a compliant reference platform present in the auditing device; and deciding upon the compliance of the platform being tested and/or the computer program being tested, based on an analysis of the respective behaviors of the platform being tested and the reference platform. The auditing device then issues a compliance decision.

Abstract: A traceability method is provided for an electronic payment terminal, in the event of a theft thereof. The method includes the following steps: detection of a lack of contact with a base and/or another terminal associated with the terminal, for a predetermined time span, generating a passage of the terminal into a stolen state; and in the stolen state, storage, in a secure memory area of the terminal, of a series of successive tracking data each associated with time stamp information, so as to enable reconstruction of a route followed by the terminal.

Abstract: An electronic payment terminal includes a data entry device, a processor and a memory. The memory contains a structure arranged to list at least one customer identifier, a personal identification number and an amount, all associated. The memory also contains a program having comprising instructions for storing, in an example of the structure after entry, the customer identifier and the personal identification number. The same example of the structure is then updated locally by payments out and in made on the terminal on behalf of the customer identified.

Abstract: A portable electronic payment terminal is provided, which includes at least one removable battery. The removable battery carries an electronic chip containing at least one item of identification information and is able to communicate with a contactless reading device present in the terminal. The terminal further includes: a transmitter for transmitting the identification information to a distant control server of the terminal manufacturer; and a receiver for receiving from the server conformity or non-conformity information according to whether the identification information belongs to a list approved by the manufacturer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for validating a transaction on a transactional terminal, the transaction being associated with a user. The method includes a step of decoding a validation code preliminarily generated and displayed by the transactional terminal, entered by the user in a validation message, and transmitted by a mobile device of the user to an entity of a telecommunications network to which the mobile device and said transactional terminal are connected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing the energy consumption of an electronic terminal. The method implements a step of modifying the timeout-before-standby duration for said terminal after an action performed by and/or on said terminal at a current instant, depending on the membership of the current instant in a given temporal category, from among at least two predefined temporal categories.

Abstract: A method is provided for authenticating micro-processor cards to determine whether a card is a genuine card or a fake card. Authentication is performed by a checking program of at least one card reader terminal. The program sends to each card commands belonging to a standard and public set of commands. The method includes: modifying the checking program in the terminal or terminals, in such a way that the program additionally sends, to each card to be authenticated, at least one additional command, called a secret command, from a set of at least one additional command, pre-inserted into each genuine card, and different from the standard and public set of commands; and a step of detecting authenticity of the card, if the secret command is recognised and/or processed correctly, or the presence of a clone, if the secret command is not recognised and/or is processed wrongly.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided, which includes at least one external input, a power supply and a plurality of elementary components, each having at least one internal input and at least one internal output. The circuit further includes at least one test unit having an AND gate, each input of which is connected to an internal output of one of the elementary components and an output of which is connected to the power supply via a resistor.

Abstract: A method is provided for simplifying the input, by a user, of a very long numerical sequence, via an input module of a communications terminal. The method includes: inputting, via the input module, at least one word forming alphanumerical sequences, the word or words being previously associated with the numerical sequence; transferring the word or words to a conversion module; and receiving, by the input module, the numerical sequence, provided by the conversion module, after the words have been processed. The words are determined and provided to the user by the conversion module, in a prior initialization phase, by a conversion algorithm that associates the word or words in a unique way with a very long numerical sequence. The word or words are chosen from a pre-selected dictionary consisting of words that are of significance to the user.

Abstract: A cryptographic message signature method are provided, which have strengthened security. The method implements two sets of signature algorithms SA1={K1, S1, V1} and SA2={K2, S2, V2}, where Ki, Si and Vi are key generation algorithms, signature generation algorithms and signature verification algorithms, respectively. The method includes: a step of generating permanent keys using the algorithm K1, delivering a pair of private and public keys {sk1, pk1}; and, for at least one message m to be signed: a signature step including sub-steps. The sub-steps include: receipt of the message m to be signed; generation of an ephemeral key pair {sk2,pk2} using the algorithm K2; calculation, by the signature algorithm S2, of the signature s2 of the message m by the private key sk2; calculation, by the signature algorithm S1, of the signature c1 of the public key pk2 by the private key sk1; and providing the strengthened signature {s2, c1, pk2}.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of masking a plain datum b having n bits. The inventive method is characterised in that a masked datum m is produced using the following masking function: (I), wherein p is a prime number, bi is the bit at position i of plain datum b, and qi is the prime number at position i in a set of prime numbers (q1, . . . , qn). The invention also relates to a method of masking a biometric print, consisting in: determining a set of s real minutiae which are characteristic of the print; mixing and arranging the real minutiae with t false minutiae; and forming a mixed biometric datum b having n=s+t bits, such that, for any i: bi=1 if position i corresponds to a real minutia, and bi=0 if position i corresponds to a false minutia. The invention can be used to secure a security document such as a bank cheque.

Abstract: A countermeasure method for a microcontroller that executes sequences of instructions. The instructions are executed according to a pipeline method. At least one waiting time is randomly introduced between two consecutive instructions and/or within at least one instruction. The method is implemented by the electronics of the microcontroller rather than by software addition.

Abstract: A process is provided for deterring the theft of notes equipped with a radio-tag type authenticity check element, capable of returning an item of authenticity information, in response to an authentication request emitted by a check device. Such a process includes the following steps: transmission to the check element of at least one inactivation code, rendering the note invalid; storage and/or transport of the invalid note; and reactivation of the check element, using at least one activation code, depending on the inactivation code, rendering the note valid.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying the properties of a source code element of a computer program being edited. The includes selecting, within the source code, the source code element; searching, within the source code, a set of related code elements of the selected source code element, the elements of the set comprising typified properties; creating a data structure comprising the properties of the code elements of the set of code elements; grouping, within the data structure, the properties in function of their types; displaying the properties grouped within a portion of a display displaying the source code.

Abstract: A method for securing a transaction by an electronic card paired with at least one mobile terminal, wherein a banking organization in charge of managing transactions involving the card has previously recorded an identifier of the mobile terminal among data relating to the owner of the card. The securing method includes: transmission, by the mobile terminal, of at least one first signal including a message containing the identifier; receipt, by at least one transaction device near the mobile terminal, of the first signal; transmission, by the transaction device, of a second signal including at least the message to at least one remote banking organization; assignment, by a control server of the banking organization, to a transaction involving the electronic card, by a control server of the banking organization, of information representing proximity between the electronic card and the mobile terminal, according to the second signal received by the banking organization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for assisting in checking accuracy of bank transaction records edited in a bank statement and performed by at least one transaction device. The method includes, for at least one of the transactions: emission, by the transaction device, of at least one first signal including a message relating to the transaction; receipt, by at least one mobile terminal, of the at least one first signal; transmission, by the mobile terminal, of a second signal including at least the message, to at least one banking organization; association, by a server of the banking organization in charge of the transaction, of the message with at least one datum relating to the transaction, and marking of the transaction as a pre-checked transaction.

Abstract: An electronic payment terminal and method are provided for printing tickets. The method includes: carrying out payment transactions with the terminal; after each transaction, simultaneously printing several tickets concerning the transaction made. Accordingly, when several transactions are carried out successively, the time required for printing the tickets is shortened since the tickets are printed at the same time.

Abstract: An electronic payment terminal includes a device for acquiring biometric data and a program capable of: acquiring biometric data during a transaction by a biometric data acquisition device; and storing the biometric data in the payment terminal. A corresponding transaction method is also provided.

Abstract: A computer appliance and method are provided. The computer appliance includes a processor, a memory in which the processor can read and write, and an input/output device for interfacing the appliance processor with the outside world. In order to verify conformity of the logical content of the appliance with the reference content, the method includes sending to the appliance a request for loading into the memory and executing a verification program. The verification program is capable or writing data into the memory of the appliance and of reading data in the memory to send them to the input/output device. Then, the method includes sending to the appliance a request for executing the program to saturate the memory available not taken up by the program. Finally, it includes exchanging messages with the appliance by executing the program. Based on the exchanged messages, the conformity of the logical content of the appliance is verified.

Abstract: A portable electronic payment terminal is provided, which includes at least one removable battery. The removable battery carries an electronic chip containing at least one item of identification information and is able to communicate with a contactless reading device present in the terminal. The terminal further includes: a transmitter for transmitting the identification information to a distant control server of the terminal manufacturer; and a receiver for receiving from the server conformity or non-conformity information according to whether the identification information belongs to a list approved by the manufacturer.