Conference

Geographic Hints for Passphrase Authentication

We propose and study the use of geographic hints to aid memorability of passphrase-style authentication secrets. Geographic hints are map locations that are selected by the user at the time of passphrase creation, and shown to the user as a hint at …

Geographical Security Questions for Fallback Authentication

Fallback authentication is the backup authentication method used when the primary authentication method (e.g., passwords, biometrics, etc.) fails. Currently, widely-deployed fallback authentication methods (e.g., security questions, email resets, and …

Towards Models for Quantifying the Known Adversary

The known adversary threat model has drawn growing attention of the security community. The known adversary is any individual with elevated first-hand knowledge of a potential victim and/or elevated access to a potential victim’s devices. However, …

Reinforcing System-Assigned Passphrases Through Implicit Learning

We propose and study the use of geographic hints to aid memorability of passphrase-style authentication secrets. Geographic hints are map locations that are selected by the user at the time of passphrase creation, and shown to the user as a hint at …

System-Assigned Passwords You Can't Write Down, But Don't Need To

Crypto-Assistant: Towards Facilitating Developer’s Encryption of Sensitive Data

The Presentation Effect on Graphical Passwords

We provide a simple yet powerful demonstration of how an unobtrusive change to a graphical password interface can modify the distribution of user chosen passwords, and thus possibly the security it provides. The only change to the interface is how …

On the Semantic Patterns of Passwords and their Security Impact

We present the first framework for segmentation, semantic classification, and semantic generalization of passwords and a model that captures the semantic essence of password samples. Researchers have only touched the surface of patterns in password …

Usability and Security Evaluation of GeoPass: a Geographic Location-Password Scheme

We design, implement, and evaluate GeoPass: an interface for digital map-based authentication where a user chooses a place as his or her password (i.e., a “location-password”). We conducted a multi-session in-lab/at-home user study to evaluate the …

Visualizing Semantics in Passwords: The Role of Dates

We begin an investigation into the semantic patterns underlying user choice in passwords. Understanding semantic patterns provides insight into how people choose passwords, which in turn can be used to inform usable password policies and password …