One aspect of an embodiment of the invention provides a method and
platform to prove to a challenger that a responder device possesses
cryptographic information from a certifying manufacturer. This is
accomplished by performing a direct proof by the responder device to
prove that the responder device possesses the cryptographic information.
The direct proof comprises at least one exponentiation being conducted
using an exponent having a bit length no more than one-half a bit length
of a modulus (n).