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In recent years, identity theft has become a major problem. A recent study by Javelin Strategy & Research found that there were 16.7 million victims of identity theft in 2017, with each victim losing an average of $1,579.
One of the biggest problems with identity theft is that it’s often difficult to prevent. Hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and they can steal people’s personal information without them even realizing it. However, there may be a new solution to this problem: keystroke dynamics authentication.
What Is Keystroke Dynamics Authentication?
Keystroke dynamics authentication is a type of biometric authentication that relies on the unique way that each person types. By analyzing someone’s keystroke patterns, it’s possible to create a profile that can be used to verify their identity.
Keystroke dynamics authentication could be used to prevent identity theft by making it more difficult for hackers to impersonate someone. If a hacker doesn’t know how the person they’re trying to impersonate types, they’re much less likely to be successful at stealing their identity.
Additionally, keystroke dynamics authentication is non-intrusive and relatively easy to use. Unlike other biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint scanners or Face ID, keystroke dynamics authentication can be used without the person even realizing it.
For example, keystroke dynamics authentication could be built into a keyboard or computer mouse. As the person types, the keyboard or mouse analyzes their keystroke patterns and uses that information to verify their identity.
Keystroke dynamics authentication is still in the early stages of development, but it has the potential to be a powerful tool in the fight against identity theft.
How Keystroke Dynamics Came to Be
The idea of using keystroke dynamics for authentication purposes was first proposed in the early 1980s. At that time, researchers found that every person has a unique typing rhythm that is fairly consistent over time.
Based on this discovery, the first keystroke dynamics authentication system was developed in the mid-1980s. This system, called Keystroke Dynamics Signature Verification (KDSV), was able to verify a person’s identity with an accuracy of about 95%.
Since then, keystroke dynamics authentication has evolved and become more sophisticated. Today, there are several commercial keystroke dynamics authentication systems available. These systems boast accuracy rates of 99% or higher.
How Keystroke Dynamics Authentication Works
There are a number of different ways to measure a person’s keystroke dynamics. The most common method is to measure the time between keystrokes, also known as the inter-keystroke interval (IKI).
Other factors that can be measured include the amount of pressure applied to the keys, the speed at which the keys are pressed, and the order in which the keys are pressed.
When a person types, all of these factors combine to create a unique typing pattern. This typing pattern is known as a keystroke dynamics signature.
When trying to authenticate a person’s identity, a keystroke dynamics authentication system will measure the person’s IKI and compare it to their stored keystroke dynamics signature. If the two aspects match, then the person’s identity is verified.
The Future of Keystroke Dynamics
The need for more robust authentication systems will only grow as the world becomes increasingly digitized. In the past, passwords were used as the primary authentication method. However, passwords are no longer considered secure enough on their own.
As a result, biometrics, such as fingerprint scanning and iris scanning, are being used more and more often. However, these biometrics can be expensive to implement and may not always be available.
Keystroke dynamics authentication is a low-cost solution that can be used in various situations. In the future, it is likely that keystroke dynamics authentication will be used more and more often as a primary or secondary authentication method.
Conclusion
Keystroke dynamics authentication may be the key to preventing identity theft. Businesses can more effectively identify and authenticate users by analyzing an individual’s typing patterns. This authentication method is more secure than traditional methods, such as passwords, and can help businesses protect their data and resources from unauthorized access.
Fleksy is here to help businesses build their innovative products through our white-label keyboard SDK. The state-of-the-art solution we offer is designed for easy integration and is easily the best keyboard technology for any app.
Contact us today to learn more about Fleksy and learn how we can assist with improving the cybersecurity of your digital product(s).
