Economic aspects of web authentication

In year 2008, 51.3 % of the world population owned a mobile phone, today probably being significantly higher the figure. To be able to reach a good enough security level, a hardware authentication device might be the only option. But since this means that the user needs to bring an extra item all the time it is argued that the mobile phone could be used as a hardware authentication device. But using the mobile phone in web authentication means different types of costs than with another type of hardware authentication device and this is therefore analysed in the study. A model is presented that can be used when evaluating web authentication in general and with mobile phones in specific. It concludes with the fact that it is difficult defining a specific cost since it depends on many variables, but by using the model one should be able to reach a good estimate in each situation.