Patent ID: 8683581

Claim:
A system for authenticating a host device with a secure device comprising: a host device; and a removable secure device locally connected to said host device through a local connection interface; wherein said secure device comprises at least one processor configured for monitoring the host device by handling a plurality of hardware and software parameters specific to the operating behavior of the host device, the hardware parameters including parameters pertaining to the electric functioning of the host device, the software parameters depending on operating of data processing programs implemented in the at least one processor and associated memories of the host device, the security device further comprises a non volatile memory associated with the at least one processor, for storing a plurality of reference hardware and software parameters, wherein the secure device is configured for authentication of the host device by performing the steps of: a) determining at least one hardware or software parameter specific to an operating behavior of the host device; b) comparing the at least one hardware or software parameter with a corresponding reference hardware or software parameter stored in the non volatile memory; c) according to a result of step b), modifying or leaving unchanged a value of a counter associated with the at least one hardware or software parameter; d) repeating the steps a) to c) after at least one time period; e) after the at least one time period, reading the value of the counter; and f) determining an operating mode of the system based on a comparison of the value of the counter with a predefined counter threshold value specific to the host device, the operating mode of the system comprising one of further processing, repeating authentication process, or executing countermeasures by the secure device and/or the host device.