Hacking has become more sophisticated, and researchers at the University of Glasgow in Scotland have discovered ThermoSecure, a system that can guess computer, ATM and smartphone passwords in seconds using thermal imaging cameras and artificial intelligence, and they warn that criminals could be developing similar technology.<\/p>\n
ThermoSecure is a thermal and artificial intelligence system that uses thermal imaging and artificial intelligence to detect heat from people’s fingertips on recently used keyboards.<\/p>\n
When a password is typed on a keyboard or mobile device, it analyzes the visible signs of heat left by the fingertips. Since brighter areas in a thermal image indicate areas that have recently been touched, the order in which letters, numbers and symbols have been entered can be determined.<\/p>\n
Using machine learning and 1,500 thermal images of recently used QWERTY keyboards, it was taught to recognize heat signatures and then draw conclusions about potential passwords.<\/p>\n
ThermoSecure revealed 86% of passwords when a thermal image was captured within 20 seconds of entering it. Within 30 seconds, the success rate had dropped to 76%, and within 60 seconds, it had dropped to 62%.<\/p>\n
According to the team, longer passwords meant more security. ThermoSecure can crack only 67% of the 16-character passwords in 20 seconds, increasing its success rate to 82% for passwords with 12 symbols, 93% for passwords with eight symbols and 100% for passwords with six symbols. The writing style also has an impact; slow typers are considered more secure than fast typers.<\/p>\n
For the researchers, PBT plastic keyboards are more secure than ABT plastic keyboards, so longer passwords or alternative authentication methods such as fingerprint or facial recognition should be used.<\/p>\n