A method and apparatus for securing a token from unauthorized use is
disclosed. The method comprises the steps of receiving a first message
transmitted from a host processing device and addressed to a PIN entry
device according to a universal serial bus (USB) protocol; accepting a
PIN entered into the PIN entry device; and transmitting a second message
comprising at least a portion of the first message and the PIN from the
PIN entry device to the token along a secure communication path. In
another embodiment, the present invention describes an apparatus for
securing a token from unauthorized use, comprising a PIN entry device,
communicably coupleable to a host processing device transmitting a first
message addressed to the PIN entry device, and communicatively coupleable
to the token according to a universal serial bus USB protocol, the PIN
entry device comprising a user input device, for accepting a user-input
PIN; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the user input device,
the processor for receiving the first message and combining the first
message with the user-input PIN, and for producing a second message
having at least a portion of the first message and the user-input PIN.