Phones hackable using motion sensors to capture passwords

[jmak]

Cyber experts at Newcastle University, UK, have revealed the ease with which malicious websites, as well as installed apps, can spy on us using just the information from the motion sensors in our mobile phones.

 

Analysing the movement of the device as we type in information, they have shown it is possible to crack four-digit PINs with a 70% accuracy on the first guess – 100% by the fifth guess - using just the data collected via the phone’s numerous internal sensors.[/Quote]

 

Are your sensors spying on you? - Press Office - Newcastle University

 

Also reported here: Engadget phone motion sensor pin vulnerability

 

 

Another argument for using fingerprint readers?

[Garacesh]

I figured something like this would be the next step when we had the 'your smartwatch could reveal your PIN' thing going on. It makes sense that gyros/acellerometers/etc, with enough sample data, could figure out where you were pressing on your screen. Definitely a +1 for biometrics.