‘Smartphone Tilting’ Reveals Mobile Passwords with 100% Accuracy After 5 Guesses
Interesting read from IET’s E & T blog. Basically tapping a number-based passcode on a screen creates minor fluctuations in the ’tilt’ of the phone – against sensors like gyroscopes and accelerometers – allowing malicious “hackers” to triangulate your passcode, with 100% accuracy by the fifth guess.
Cyber experts at Newcastle University say they have been able to reveal the ease with which malicious websites and apps can spy on us using the motion sensors in our smartphones and tablets.
Analysing the movement of a device as the keyboard was used, they were able to crack four-digit PINs with 70 per cent accuracy on the first guess and 100 per cent by the fifth guess.
Needless to say this flaw has essentially always been prevalent. Might be time to lay your device down on a flat surface when accessing truly sensitive logins.
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