An initial communication pathway is established between a first execution environment of a mobile device and a second execution environment of the mobile device. The first and second execution environments are executed in parallel with each other. The second execution environment has a higher level of security than the first execution environment. A request is received from a first entity to authenticate itself. The first entity resides in the first execution environment of the mobile device. The first entity is authenticated in response to the request. The authentication is performed by a second entity that resides in the second execution environment of the mobile device. The receiving of the request and the authenticating are performed using a direct communication link between the first execution environment and the second execution environment while bypassing the initial communication pathway.