Threats of Password Pattern Leakage Using Smartwatch Motion Recognition Sensors

Jihun Kim,Jonghee Youn

doi:10.3390/sym9070101

Abstract

Thanks to the development of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, wearable markets have been growing rapidly. Smartwatches can be said to be the most representative product in wearable markets, and involve various hardware technologies in order to overcome the limitations of small hardware. Motion recognition sensors are a representative example of those hardware technologies. However, smartwatches and motion recognition sensors that can be worn by users may pose security threats of password pattern leakage. In the present paper, passwords are inferred through experiments to obtain password patterns inputted by users using motion recognition sensors, and verification of the results and the accuracy of the results is shown.

Highlights

Before smartwatches were released onto the market, the watches were intended to identify time
The threat of sufficient leakage of user’s password patterns through the motion recognition sensors embedded in smartwatches that are prominent in wearable markets, was proved
It can be said that, ironically, wearable devices such as smartwatches released for increasing speed and convenience, may be subject to security threats such as password pattern leakage, due to that fact that those wearable devices are worn by the users

Summary

Introduction

Before smartwatches were released onto the market, the watches were intended to identify time. The fitness function of smartwatches operates by calculating the rotation, direction, and movements of watches using gyroscopes that sense movements, measurement sensors such as acceleration sensors, gravity sensors, and terrestrial magnetism sensors that sense directions Application developers utilize these measurement sensors as motion sensors to understand users’ motions, that is, as motion recognition sensors, which recognize users’ motions to perform certain functions, and are used as controllers, such as those that turn off the screen or maintain the screen dark as a default, and brighten the screen when the user has raised his/her hand [3]. The exposure of wrist movements can break down individuals’ privacy and important security elements [5] This is closely related to modern trends where analog devices are replaced by digital devices. Passwords for digital door locks on front doors or those used for banking are four-digit

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Methods

Conclusion