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<div class="title-wrap">
  <img class="logo" src="./eris_imgs/arcanum-logo.png" alt="Arcanum Technologies Logo">
  <div></div>
  <img class="logo" src="./eris_imgs/mccrary-logo.jpg" alt="McCrary Institute Logo">
</div>

<div class="nkode-title">nKode</div>
<p class="subtitle">Pictographic passcodes for resilient authentication at the edge</p>
<hr class="rule">
<p><strong>Arcanum Technologies</strong> + Auburn University’s <strong>McCrary Institute</strong></p>

<!--Speaker Notes: Title
Hello, My name is Donovan Kelly, CTO at Arcanum Technologies. We've developed nKode, a patented pictographic passcode that reinvents authentication, making it more secure and intuitive for tactical edge environments. Arcanum has collaborated with Auburn University  McCrary Institute to leverage their cybersecurity expertise and veteran insights.
-->

---
# Defining the Problem 

- **Historical Context**
  - Passwords as cornerstone of "something you know" authentication since 1961 (MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System)
  - No major reinvention in over 60 years, despite evolving threats
- **Key Problems in Authentication**
  - High cognitive load: 12-16 character passwords rotated every 60-90 days; prone to reuse and errors under stress
  - Vulnerabilities: Hacked at 95 per second globally; susceptible to phishing, keyloggers, and credential harvesting
  - **Tactical Edge Challenges:** Difficult with tactical gear (e.g., gloves); bypassed in high-risk, low-bandwidth environments; limits multi-factor authentication (MFA)

<!-- Speakers Notes: Defining the Problem
Since their introduction in 1961 with MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System, passwords have remained the cornerstone of "something you know" authentication. For warfighters, they impose a high cognitive and operational burden: memorizing and rotating 12–16 character strings every 60–90 days, often leading to reuse and mistakes under stress. Meanwhile, passwords are under constant attack, making them easy targets for credential harvesting. These weaknesses are amplified at the tactical edge, where gloves and gear make credential entry impractical and low-bandwidth, high-risk conditions limit conventional MFA—driving workarounds and security bypasses.
-->

---

# Current State-of-the-Art

- **Relies on static inputs:** Keyboards, text-based passwords
- **Biometrics (facial/iris/fingerprint/voice):** Effective in ideal conditions but constrained in low-light, noisy, or gloved scenarios
- **Current Tech:** Zero Trust, edge computing, AI-driven security in systems like Tactical Assault Kits, but compromised by AI attacks, signals intelligence, and nation-state exploits

<!-- Speakers Notes: Current State-of-the-Art
The state of the art relies on static text inputs and biometrics like facial recognition and fingerprints. These can work in controlled settings, but in tactical edge conditions—noise, degraded visual environments, motion, low light, or gloves—biometrics’ probabilistic nature drives high failure rates. Meanwhile, Zero Trust, edge computing, and AI-driven security (e.g., Tactical Assault Kits) are advancing, yet remain vulnerable to AI-enabled attacks, signals intelligence, and nation-state exploitation.
-->

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# nKode Advances the State-of-the-Art

- **What’s New in nKode’s Approach**
  - Patented virtual keypad with shuffling icons; AI-generated, user-unique icon sets
- **Vs. Passwords:** No text entry; strong guessing resistance with compact inputs
  - Zero-trust architectures leveraging ChaCha20 to drive shuffling and OPAQUE (aPAKE) for mutual authentication over low-trust links
  - Resilient to keyloggers and replay; auto-rotation without user action; shoulder-surf resistant
- **Why It Matters at the Edge**
  - Works in low-bandwidth or contested environments
  - Cuts cognitive load and speeds access, reducing bypass behavior
  - Preserves mission continuity for edge tools and C2 workflows

<!-- Speakers Notes: nKode Advances the State-of-the-Art
nKode's dynamic, visual paradigm changes “something you know” authentication.
Instead of typed secrets, the user authenticates through a patented virtual keypad whose icons shuffle every session.
Each user gets a unique AI-generated icon set, and selections map to encrypted backend tokens—making offline guessing computationally infeasible and credential stuffing impossible.
Under the hood, we use a zero-trust approach: ChaCha20 drives the deterministic shuffling of the keypad, and OPAQUE, an asymmetric Passcode Authenticated Key Exchange provides mutual authentication over low-trust links.
This flips the usability-security trade-off because it's easier to remember and more secure than a password.
-->
---
# How nKode Aligns with DARPA ERIS

- **Topic area fit:** Advances resilience, efficiency, and effectiveness for strategic systems across critical infrastructure and military C2 at strategic, command, operational, and tactical edges.
- **Mission tie:** Supports DARPA’s aim to create technological surprise for U.S. national security.
- **nKode’s role:** Reinvents “something you know” with keyboard-less, AI-generated icons to keep auth working in contested or low-bandwidth networks.
- **Surprise element:** Resilient to credential reuse and keyloggers; can operate over unencrypted or bandwidth-constrained links without exposing secrets.
- **Operational benefits:** Faster, low-cognitive-load access under stress; reduces bypasses and maintains mission continuity for edge tools like TAK.
- **Architectural alignment:** Zero Trust, edge computing, and secure operations in dynamic, degraded conditions.
- **Impact:** Hardens C2 and critical infrastructure against AI-driven credential harvesting and disruption in contested environments.

<!-- Speakers Notes: How nKode Aligns with DARPA ERIS
nKode aligns with ERIS Topic Area “advanced technologies for improved resilience, efficiency, and effectiveness of strategic systems,” including critical infrastructure and military Command and Control. In real-world degraded comms where passwords, OTPs, or push prompts fail or are vulnerable, nKode strengthens authentication with zero-trust and keyboard-less icon challenges that move over low-bandwidth pipes while staying resistant to capture and replay. This yields quick, low-cognitive-load logins under stress. The approach supports DARPA’s goal of technological surprise by denying adversaries easy wins from phishing and keylogging.
-->

<!--
DEMO
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# Why nKode Will Succeed

- **Pitch History:** Winner of the FIS VC and Venturetech Pitch competitions
- **Technical:** Integration with legacy DoD systems; user training; device compatibility (rugged tablets)
- **Evolving Threats:** Advanced AI shoulder-surfing; scaling to millions/billions of unique, psychologically neutral icons to prevent AI prediction of user selections
- **Mitigation:** Leverage ERIS for rapid pathways; partner with McCrary Institute for validation
- **Market Validation:** Independent survey by User Insight – 62% prefer nKode (vs. 23% passwords)
- **Team Strength:** Veterans with cyber ops experience; TRL 4
- **Dual-Use Potential:** Defense (tactical edge) + Commercial
- **Evidence:** Exceeds benchmarks; low friction deployment

<!-- Speakers Notes: Why nKode Will Succeed
Institutional inertia is one of our biggest challenges.
We've had interest from Fortune 500 fintech companies like FIS.
However, authentication is a risky technology to change and nobody wants to be the first to do it.
nKode has a great chance of succeeding.
We've had a market acceptance study conducted by User Insight.
A 35% favorability score is considered a high score for a new product.
nKode was favored by 62% of participants.
This is an exceptionally high favorability rating.
That underscores just how needed a password alternative is.
-->
---
# Proposed Plan/Strategy if Funded

- **Target:** TRL 4 → TRL 6 (operationally relevant prototype)  
- **De-risking milestone 1 — independent validation:** Obtain an **independent, implementation-agnostic** review of the system’s **zero-trust architecture**, including threat model, assumptions, and security claims.  
- **De-risking milestone 2 — implementation testing:** Conduct **penetration testing / red-teaming** of the prototype to uncover practical vulnerabilities and harden the deployed system under tactical-edge constraints (low bandwidth, intermittent connectivity).  
- **De-risking milestone 3 — scale enabler:** Deliver a repeatable pipeline capable of producing **millions to billions** of **psychologically neutral** icons to support scale without introducing bias.  
- **Result:** A validated design and hardened, scalable prototype ready for operationally relevant evaluation.
<!-- Speakers Notes: Proposed Plan/Strategy if Funded
If we are awardable, our goal is to move from TRL 4 to TRL 6 by building an operationally relevant prototype.
First, we will commission an independent, implementation-agnostic validation of the zero-trust architecture—confirming the threat model, key assumptions, and security claims separate from any particular prototype build.
Second, we will perform implementation-focused security assessment (penetration testing / red-teaming) of the prototype in realistic tactical-edge conditions, including low bandwidth and intermittent connectivity, to identify exploitable weaknesses, harden the system, and document residual risk.
Third, we will deliver a scalable, repeatable pipeline to generate millions to billions of psychologically neutral icons so the system can scale without introducing biasing or emotionally “loaded” imagery.
-->
---
# Arcanum and McCrary Technical Team

<div class="team-grid">
  <div class="person">
    <img src="./eris_imgs/brown.jpg" alt="Brooks Brown headshot">
    <div class="name">Brooks Brown</div>
    <div class="role">Chief Development Architect, Co-founder (nKode inventor)</div>
  </div>
  <div class="person">
    <img src="./eris_imgs/cwhit.jpg" alt="Dr. Craig Whittinghill headshot">
    <div class="name">Dr. Craig Whittinghill</div>
    <div class="role">Deputy Director, McCrary Institute (USN Veteran)</div>
  </div>
  <div class="person">
    <img src="./eris_imgs/jsherk.png" alt="Jonathan Sherk headshot">
    <div class="name">Jonathan Sherk</div>
    <div class="role">Principal Cybersecurity Research Engineer (NSA-cert Red Team Lead)</div>
  </div>
  <div class="person">
    <img src="./eris_imgs/oeding.jpg" alt="Dr. Luke Oeding headshot">
    <div class="name">Dr. Luke Oeding</div>
    <div class="role">Associate Professor, Math & Statistics (Algebraic/Computational)</div>
  </div>
  <div class="person">
    <img src="./eris_imgs/kandah.jpg" alt="Dr. Farah Kandah headshot">
    <div class="name">Dr. Farah Kandah</div>
    <div class="role">Associate Professor, CSSE (Cybersecurity, Networks, IoT)</div>
  </div>
  <div class="person">
    <img src="./eris_imgs/DonovanKelly.png" alt="Donovan Kelly headshot">
    <div class="name">Donovan Kelly</div>
    <div class="role">CTO, Arcanum Technology (Defense, Healthcare, Auth)</div>
  </div>
</div>

<!-- Speakers Notes: Arcanum and McCrary Technical Team 
The nKode team represents a collaborative effort between Arcanum Technology LLC and Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security. It comprises cybersecurity experts, university professors, and innovators focused on advanced authentication solutions.
-->

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# Team Bios

- **Brooks Brown**, as the inventor and Co-founder of nKode, provides the foundational vision and architectural expertise essential for driving this innovative authentication solution forward. His role as Chief Development Architect positions him uniquely to guide the project's technical direction. 
- **Dr. Craig Whittinghill** serves as the Deputy Director for Applied Research and Services at the McCrary Institute. As a Navy Veteran with 29 years of service as a Naval Intelligence Officer, he brings extensive leadership in high-stakes cyber and intelligence operations. 
- **Jonathan Sherk** is a Principal Cybersecurity Research Engineer at Auburn University’s McCrary Institute. He leads a USDA grant on rural cybersecurity and co-leads Alabama’s State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. As an NSA-certified, CYBERCOM-accredited Red Team Lead, he has performed adversarial assessments on EUDs and Army products at the Threat Systems Management Office.
- **Dr. Luke Oeding**, an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Auburn University, contributes advanced algebraic and computational expertise critical for nKode's underlying mathematical frameworks. His research focuses on applications of algebraic geometry and representation theory to tensors, quantum information processing, signal processing, and collaborative navigation. 
- **Dr. Farah Kandah**, an IEEE Senior Member and Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Auburn University, as well as a faculty affiliate with the McCrary Institute, provides specialized knowledge in cybersecurity, networking, and emerging technologies like IoT and quantum credentials. His research encompasses distributed computing, computer security and reliability, computer communications (networks), and more. 
- **Donovan Kelly** brings software development experience across defense, healthcare, media, and authentication sectors, including prior work at Lockheed Martin Space. In my current role as CTO of Arcanum Technology LLC, I am actively developing new ways to apply nKode to a variety of authentication problems.

<!-- Speakers Notes: Team Bios
The key members of the nKode team include Brooks Brown, who serves as the inventor, co-founder, and chief development architect; Dr. Craig Whittinghill, the deputy director and a Navy veteran with deep expertise in cyber and intelligence operations; Jonathan Sherk, a principal cybersecurity research engineer leading grants and red team assessments; Dr. Luke Oeding and Dr. Farah Kandah both associate professors at Auburn Univeristy; and Lastly me. I'm the CTO at Arcanum. I bring software development experience from defense, and healthcare sectors.
-->
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# Defense and Commercial Market Use Case/Impact

- **Defense Use Cases**
  - Tactical edge authentication: Secure access to Tactical Assault Kits/comms platforms in DDIL environments
  - Warfighter resilience: Keyboard-less icons reduce errors under stress; resists keyloggers, phishing, AI attacks
  - Zero Trust enablement: Auth over unencrypted/low-bandwidth channels; integrates with C2 systems/edge compute
- **Commercial Use Cases**
  - Banking/Healthcare: Replaces passwords for online accounts; phishing-resistant, no credential reuse
  - Dual-Use Potential: Scales to consumer apps; reduces MFA friction in high-volume sectors
- **Market Impact ("So What")**
  - Enhances mission success/safety: Faster logins, fewer vulnerabilities in contested ops
  - Broad Adoption: Safeguards critical ops across sectors

<!-- Speakers Notes: Defense and Commercial Market Use Case/Impact
nKode offers significant impact in both defense and commercial markets.
In defense, nKode targets tactical edge challenges where current authentication systems falter.
Commercially, nKode addresses massive markets. Replaces vulnerable passwords in banking (reducing phishing losses) or healthcare (securing patient data). 
nKode closes usability-security gaps, created by passwords.
-->

---
# Partnering with DARPA for Authentication's Next Leap

- **Historical Full Circle**: In 1961, DARPA (as ARPA) funded MIT's Project MAC, birthing the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS), the origin of computer passwords. Now, as authentication faces escalating nation-state threats, nKode represents its disruptive evolution, closing vulnerabilities in denied, degraded, intermittent, and low-bandwidth (DDIL) scenarios.
- **DARPA as Prime Mover**: DARPA's mission to make pivotal investments in high-risk, high-reward innovations for national security makes you the ideal partner. Your support can accelerate nKode from TRL 4 to operational deployment, enabling revolutionary advances in Zero Trust and edge computing for warfighters.
- **Why We Need DARPA**: As our strategic catalyst, your funding, expertise, and ecosystem will scale nKode globally, ensuring resilient authentication safeguards missions and lives. This is our call to collaborate: Join us in evolving what you pioneered.

<!-- Speakers Notes: Partnering with DARPA for Authentication's Next Leap 
Back in 1961, ARPA, funded MIT's Project MAC, which led to the Compatible Time-Sharing System, and the very first use of computer passwords. 
DARPA is the prime mover in transformative tech. Your mission is to make pivotal investments in high-risk, high-reward innovations for national security. 
That's why we need DARPA now, as our strategic catalyst. Your funding, expertise, and vast ecosystem will help us scale nKode, ensuring resilient authentication that safeguards missions, infrastructure, bank accounts, healthcare and more. Together, we can close this 60-year loop.
-->
