(December 23, 2015) A
system using images and a one-time numerical code could provide a secure and
easy to use alternative to multi-factor methods dependent on hardware or
software and one-time passwords, a study by Plymouth University suggests.
Researchers from the Centre for Security Communication and
Network Research (CSCAN) believe their new multi-level authentication system
GOTPass could be effective in protecting personal online information from
hackers.
It could also be easier for users to remember, and be less
expensive for providers to implement since it would not require the deployment
of potentially costly hardware systems.
Writing in Information Security Journal: A Global
Perspective, researchers say the system would be applicable for online banking
and other such services, where users with several accounts would struggle to
carry around multiple devices, to gain access.
They also publish the results of a series of security tests,
demonstrating that out of 690 hacking attempts – using a range of guesswork and
more targeted methods – there were just 23 successful break-ins.