Back To My Mac authentication keys

[nickelcokes]

When I started using Back To My Mac in October 2007, it automatically generated authentication keys, and connecting to a remote computer would automatically authenticate me. This allowed me to do one-click screen sharing with my home computer. One year later, the authentication keys expired. I used the MobileMe online preferences to revoke these keys, and the next attempt to use Back To My Mac generated a new set of keys.

However, it no longer automatically authenticates me. Attempting to connect to my remote machine now presents an authentication dialog and demands my password. Doing this once grants me a Kerberos ticket, which means I don't have to authenticate again until the ticket expires ten hours later. This is the same behavior as when trying to connect to a server on the same local network with Bonjour through the Finder.

While I don't mind this additional security measure, the one-click sharing was definitely convenient, and I'm wondering what happened. My configuration never changed, except for the expired (and regenerated) keys. Is this the new expected behavior of Back To My Mac? Does anybody know if this can be reverted to the original behavior? Searching for answers on this subject has yielded sparse results and a lot of garbage.

 

[jarjarblinks]

Why don't you call Apple? They certainly will be in the best position to advise you if any of the authentication protocols have been enhanced.

 

[southerndoc]

When you re-authenticate, are you checking the box to remember your password?

 

[nickelcokes]

Why don't you call Apple? They certainly will be in the best position to advise you if any of the authentication protocols have been enhanced.

I chatted with somebody on the Mobile Me support site, but this problem was a bit to esoteric for the standard support personnel.

When you re-authenticate, are you checking the box to remember your password?

Thanks for your suggestion, but that is an unrelated issue. I don't want to keep my system password in the keychain, and before, I never had too. It used only the Back To My Mac authentication keys generated by Mobile Me to identify me. Originally, I didn't enter my password at all.