Novel typing method to prevent cyber crime

Researchers have developed a new keystroke algorithm that can make online authentication processes more secure, reliable and cheap.

The new method hopes to alleviate some of the common issues for internet users including loss of password, growing prowess of hackers, and easy access to methods such as phishing and usage of bots, said the authors in a paper published in the Journal of Applied Security Research.

Like fingerprint scans, retina scans and facial recognition, keystroke dynamics are a biometric -- they measure a unique human characteristic.

"As the typing pattern varies from person to person, this can be used as a suitable method for the authentication process more effective than others," the researchers wrote.

The information needed for the process is using the various software systems already present in the computer, leading to a decrease in costs.

The new keystroke template algorithm combines measures from existing models to increase precision.

To test their algorithm, the researchers built a programme that users could log into using passwords of varying length.

While entering their credentials, keystroke dynamics were recorded.

Results indicate that their algorithm was successful in decreasing login errors and making improper authentication very unlikely, thus advancing keystroke dynamics analysis as a viable e-security measure.

The researchers do call for additional testing before the new algorithm can be used as a security measure.

"The keystroke dynamics analysis holds big potential as an authentication method but the methods used in the process have to be improved before it can be used as an independent security measure," they concluded.