4 ms·

I've been trying to think of a way of using typing cadence to capture "bits" of information. Think you would have a good solution for that? Take this scenario

I've been trying to think of a way of using typing cadence to capture "bits" of information. Think you would have a good solution for that? Take this scenario (and also check out the exclaimer at the bottom!). All users on the earth type the same paragraph, or perhaps some password (clearly the longer the most distinct fingerprint, but bear with me on this). Based on this sequence of keypresses, I capture the timestamp that each keypress is activated, and then the duration that each key is held down for. Based on this information, how would you recommend, or suggest that a person goes about detecting some unique fingerprint from these values. I was thinking the best way would be to have each keypress some space point and the duration held down a vector. And then if each use is entering the same paragraph, the distance accross all of the vectors could be used to calculate some identifying fingerprint. Exclaimer: I'm absolutely not interested in the slightest in tracking users. Every weekend I try and research something that interests me. Last weekend was user fingerprinting based on the typing speed and cadence of users.

randomwalker 15y ago
This is a well-known technology :-) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke_dynamics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke_dynamics In the research community it's a proven and accepted concept. There are products in the market that do two-factor authentication based on password + keystroke dynamics, but I don't know how well they work.
- chrisacky 15y ago
  Thanks! I was sure it must have been called something!
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
Hoff 15y ago
I know a user that has treated his computer keyboard as a keyboard on a musical instrument, and "played a tune" with the keys as his password.
- unimpressive 15y ago
  It's too bad that this is halfway to the bottom of the page. That's easily one of the most interesting steganographic techniques I have ever heard of. It certainly allows for unique password reminders. A tape recording next to your monitor with strange music on it would probably be passed over by...I honestly can't think of anyone who'd make the leap between music and passwords. So lets just say anyone except (potentially) people who've read this post, the user you mentioned, and anyone else who happens to be doing this.

randomwalker 15y ago

This is a well-known technology :-) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke_dynamics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke_dynamics In the research community it's a proven and accepted concept. There are products in the market that do two-factor authentication based on password + keystroke dynamics, but I don't know how well they work.

chrisacky 15y ago
Thanks! I was sure it must have been called something!
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]

Hoff 15y ago

I know a user that has treated his computer keyboard as a keyboard on a musical instrument, and "played a tune" with the keys as his password.

unimpressive 15y ago
It's too bad that this is halfway to the bottom of the page. That's easily one of the most interesting steganographic techniques I have ever heard of. It certainly allows for unique password reminders. A tape recording next to your monitor with strange music on it would probably be passed over by...I honestly can't think of anyone who'd make the leap between music and passwords. So lets just say anyone except (potentially) people who've read this post, the user you mentioned, and anyone else who happens to be doing this.