Strengthening Authentication: The Role of Multi-Level Hashing in OSPA Protocol

Authentication is a crucial step in the cyber security process that confirms user identities. Even though they are widely used, traditional password based techniques are frequently vulnerable to attacks like guessing and password theft. This study presents the Optimal Strong Password Authentication (OSPA) protocol, which uses USB sticks to provide safe user authentication in order to address these issues. The Multi-Level Hashing Algorithm (MLHA), which dynamically picks hash functions during authentication to generate many layers of hashed passwords, is a key component of OSPA's effectiveness. By preventing eavesdropping efforts and reducing the possibility of unwanted access through guessing attacks, this method strengthens security. This protocol provides strong authentication procedures, protecting confidential data and improving overall cyber security posture by integrating MLHA into the OSPA architecture.