Abstract: Protecting the security of an entity by using passcodes is disclosed. A passcode device generates a passcode. In an embodiment, the passcode is generated in response to receipt of user information. The passcode is received by another system, which authenticates the passcode by at least generating a passcode from a passcode generator, and comparing the generated passcode with the received passcode. The passcode is temporary. At a later use a different passcode is generated from a different passcode generator.

Abstract: In one embodiment, messages are encrypted with encrypted transformations that commute with one another. In another embodiment, a message is divided into message segments, and with each encrypted message segment one or more encrypted keys are sent. The encrypted keys may be used to decrypt a message segment that is sent at another time, such as the next message segment to be sent. In another embodiment, a sender encrypts a message with a first encryption, which may be unknown to the receiver. Then a receiver encrypts the message with a second encryption. Next the sender removes the first encryption, thereby allowing the receiver to reconstitute the original message by removing the second encryption. In another embodiment, a sender encrypts a message with a first encryption and a signature. Then a receiver encrypts the message with a second encryption.

Abstract: Quality of biometric prints is enhanced by any one of several different methods. In one embodiment, if a biometric print does not have a high enough quality, the biometric print is discarded. In another embodiment, a matching score is associated with the degree to which the two biometric prints match. In another embodiment, a ranking is associated with a biometric print, and the ranking is determined based upon two or more matching scores associated with the biometric print. In another embodiment, a variety of distinguishing features are derived from a given biometric print and are stored for authenticating a biometric print of a user requesting access to a secure entity. In an embodiment, a transformation is applied to at least a portion of a newly acquired biometric print to improve the match of the newly acquired biometric print to a stored biometric print.