Distorted graphics: safer programme – lock screen screen lock password password password-IT news Distorted graphics: more secure screen lock password scheme

In order to protect the user's financial information and personal privacy, many phones require the user to use a mobile phone, enter a personal identification number, biometric information or a four-digit password. But when they are in a noisy place, this method really work?

"This is not necessarily" from New Jersey, Rutgers University, the Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Germany University of Saarland, and Finland's Helsinki University team of scientists thinks so. According to the consumer reports study released in May, United States last year alone, 3.1 million smart phones were stolen. Most of these phones do not use password protection, only one-third per a user set a four-digit password. Researchers also said that even password-protected mobile phone can "strike"; over the traffic in a noisy environment, of those with ulterior motives are often in overcrowded places, on victim side peep and spotted the victim using the unlock code after they start.

In addition to a personal identification number (PIN code) and a four-digit password, researchers are exploring the possibility of using the touchscreen drawing to replace the former, they refer to this technique as "pantomime" password ". Using this technology, users touch-screen setup password can be a line, a curve, or some other graphic. Equipment this password will be converted to a numeric value. The next time the user only needs to set graphics, you can turn on the device. Usually convert the graphical values need to be as close as possible to the preset value.

As one of the leaders of the project, as both Rutgers University Associate Professor of electrical and computer engineering engineering Janne Lindqvist says, "users can gesture of repetition had set a password, but certainly very difficult for others, because each person's hand features, the above difference in muscles and joints. "Later called" recognition "(recognizer) program will determine the gestures belong to a single user.

In the study, the researchers asked participants to paint a pattern, and then asked them to repeat, and then paint again anew in ten days. Indeed, want accurate paint painted pattern is almost impossible for the first time; and what software will recognize the "extremely similar" graphic. However, the picture how similar they will were recognized, this degree will depend on the requirement for security.

Researchers on June 18, 2014 in the United States, New Hampshire held the International Conference on mobile systems (MobiSys) published research concluded, security gestures both inner complexity and simple operability. "Pantomime" password "combines these two features is because users can easily remember and copy, and thieves are difficult to copy.

The novel idea is still in the development stage, but may not be able to achieve in the next-generation iPhone. However, the hand gesture recognition researchers believe this personalized security mechanisms has led to some interesting results.

With alphanumeric passwords are different, longer or more complex gesture patterns are not necessarily safer than the shorter and simpler patterns.

Gesture patterns usually have the most security features: there are so many turns, like the letters in the signature.

Relatively insecure gesture patterns usually have a small amount of turns. In addition, these will turn more relaxed, and turning point of similar, such as a circle.

In General, participants draw their design gestures password again will be a little more difficult. When they gave the finger to create a password, and then paint again when mistakes they make will be more.