Forgery-Resistant Touch-based Authentication on Mobile Devices

Mobile devices store a diverse set of private user data and have gradually become a hub to control users' other personal Internet-of-Things devices. Access control on mobile devices is therefore highly important. The widely accepted solution is to protect access by asking for a password. However, password authentication is tedious, e.g., a user needs to input a password every time she wants to use the device. Moreover, existing biometrics such as face, fingerprint, and touch behaviors are vulnerable to forgery attacks. We propose a new touch-based biometric authentication system that is passive and secure against forgery attacks. In our touch-based authentication, a user's touch behaviors are a function of some random "secret". The user can subconsciously know the secret while touching the device's screen. However, an attacker cannot know the secret at the time of attack, which makes it challenging to perform forgery attacks even if the attacker has already obtained the user's touch behaviors. We evaluate our touch-based authentication system by collecting data from 25 subjects. Results are promising: the random secrets do not influence user experience and, for targeted forgery attacks, our system achieves 0.18 smaller Equal Error Rates (EERs) than previous touch-based authentication.Comment: Accepted for publication by ASIACCS'1

Emerging nations embrace internet, mobile technology

Description: In a remarkably short period of time, internet and mobile technology have become a part of everyday life for some in the emerging and developing world. Cell phones, in particular, are almost omnipresent in many nations. The internet has also made tremendous inroads, although most people in the 24 nations surveyed are still offline. Meanwhile, smartphones are still relatively rare, although significant minorities own these devices in countries such as Lebanon, Chile, Jordan and China. People around the world are using their cell phones for a variety of purposes, especially for texting and taking pictures, while smaller numbers also use their phones to get political, consumer and health information. Mobile technology is also changing economic life in parts of Africa, where many are using cell phones to make or receive payments.While the internet still has a limited reach in the emerging and developing world, once people do gain access to the internet, they quickly begin to integrate it into their lives. A significant number of people in these nations say they use the internet on a daily basis, including roughly half of those polled in Lebanon, Russia and Argentina. At least 20% use the internet daily in 15 of the 24 nations surveyed. In 21 of 24 nations, a majority of internet users also participate in sites like Facebook and Twitter. People are using social networking sites to stay in touch with family and friends and to share their views on an array of topics, including popular culture, religion and politics. These are among the main findings of a Pew Research Center survey conducted among 24,263 people in 24 emerging and developing economies from March 2, 2013 to May 1, 2013. All interviews were conducted face-to-face

Keeping up with information and communication technology

Examines survey respondents\u27 beliefs about whether they felt they had been left behind by information and communication technology (ICT) developments, and whether they were worried about being left behind in the future. Summary The rapid advances in information and communication technology (ICT) in recent decades have had an enormous effect on many facets of everyday life, including our relationships, formal and informal education, work,recreational pursuits and shopping. Access to information  has exploded, with the scope and detail of material available increasing almost beyond comprehension. For those who have kept up with ICT developments and wish to make use of them, staying in touch with family members and friends, sharing information, and organising social activities have never been so easy, thanks to mobile telephones, email and social media services. In addition, bills can be paid at any time without leaving home, and fresh groceries can be ordered online and delivered to our front door, while global positioning systems (GPSs) enable easy navigation of unfamiliar territories. Australians’ speedy and widespread take-up of advances in ICT has been captured in various surveys conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). For example, in 2012–13, 83% of adults (aged 18 years and over) were Internet users, and 83% of all households had access to the Internet. In addition, three-quarters of Internet users had purchased or ordered goods or services online (ABS, 2014). In 1998, on other hand, only 45% of households had a computer and 16% had home Internet access (with the latter percentage having quadrupled over the previous two years). Only one-third of adults were Internet users in 1998, with 13% accessing it via their home computer (ABS, 1999)

MOBILE LEARNING: O CASO DE UMA UNIVERSIDADE PRIVADA DE UMA CAPITAL DO NORDESTE

The advance and popularization of technology has greatly influenced educational practices. One trend is the mobile learning, distance education by mobile devices, like cell phones with Internet access (smartphones), tablets, netbooks, among others. The article aims to analyze the experience in m-learning in a private university in the northeast that provided mobile access to Internet (iPod Touch) for students entering the business career in 2009. It was developed a quantitative research which was used search method through descriptive survey questionnaires duly enrolled in 190 students sixth period who received the device in the first period. The results showed that most students still been using the iPod Touch and use it to access academic content, especially the university's academic platform. The data show that students have welcomed the initiative and stated that mobile learning now access more academic material after receiving the device, but this is not a decisive factor when evaluating the teaching of IES. Finally, we found that most teachers did not encourage students to use the device, which is a factor to be considered by other higher education institutions to invest in mobile learning.El desarrollo y la popularización de la tecnología viene influyendo fuertemente en las prácticas educativas. Una tendencia es el mobile learning, educación a distancia a través de dispositivos móviles, como teléfonos celulares con acceso a internet (smartphones), tablets, netbooks, entre otros. El artículo pretende analizar la experiencia en m-learning en una universidad privada del noreste brasileño que han proporcionado acceso a internet de dispositivos móviles (iPod Touch) para estudiantes de estudiantes del curso de administración en el 2009.  Se desarrolló una investigación cuantitativa donde se utilizo el método de investigación survey descriptiva a través de cuestionarios a 190 alumnos debidamente matriculados en el sexto semestre que recibieron el dispositivo en el primer período. Los resultados mostraron que un gran número de estudiantes sigue utilizando el iPod Touch y utilizarlo para acceder a contenidos académicos, principalmente desde la plataforma académica de la Universidad. Datos muestran que estudiantes evalúan positivamente la iniciativa de aprendizaje móvil y afirmó que material más académico tiene acceso después de haber recibido el dispositivo, pero que esto no es un factor decisivo cuando se evalúa la enseñanza del IES. Por último, identificó que la mayoría de profesores no alienta vigorosamente los estudiantes para utilizar el dispositivo, que es un factor a ser considerado por otros IES invertir en aprendizaje móvil.O avanço e popularização da tecnologia vem influenciando fortemente as práticas educativas. Uma tendências é a mobile learning, educação à distância através de dispositivos móveis, como telefones celulares com acesso à internet (smartphones), tablets, netbooks, dentre outros. O artigo teve como objetivo analisar a experiência em m-learning em uma Universidade privada do nordeste, que forneceu dispositivos móveis de acesso a internet (iPods Touch) para os alunos ingressantes do curso de Administração em 2009. Foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa quantitativa onde foi utilizado o método de pesquisa survey descritiva através de questionários respondidos por 190 alunos devidamente matriculados no sexto período, e que receberam o dispositivo no primeiro período. Os resultados mostraram que boa parte dos alunos continua utilizando o iPod Touch recebido e o utilizam para acessar conteúdos acadêmicos, sobretudo da plataforma acadêmica da Universidade. Os dados mostram que os alunos avaliaram positivamente a iniciativa de mobile learning e afirmaram que passaram a acessar com maior frequência o material acadêmico após terem recebido o dispositivo, mas que isso não é um elemento decisivo ao se avaliar o ensino da IES. Por fim, identificou-se que boa parte dos professores não incentivou os alunos a utilizarem o dispositivo, o que é um fator a ser considerado por outras IES ao investirem na mobile learning

HTML5 Based Email Client with Touch Enabled Advanced User Interface for Tabs and Tablets

The Internet has become as a very powerful platform that has changed the way we do business and the way we communicate. E-Mail is an essential tool for both cooperative world and individuals for communicating. Web-based e-mail systems have become more popular among the internet users with time. Internet and the devices that we use to access the internet are rapidly changing time to time. Among the recent evolutions the most significant of them is HTML5 incorporated mobile technology with hi-tech devices like tabs, iPads and tablets with touch sensitivity. However, the major problem occurs when different levels of resolutions arisewithmodern devices. Some devices support touch, multi-touch, gestures, keyboards and stylus. User-interface of email web clients hasnt improved in the way hi-tech devices evolved. Handling different types of interactions depends on the device and way that user handles it. We have developed HTML5 off-line supporting web-based UI for e-mail system to overcome this issue and to provide a highly user based interactive, responsive and efficient process even in slow network connections. Our approach is based on HTML5 features and client side on java-scripting. Our system is capable of running on a browser without installing any plug-ins. Depending on the device resolution and user interaction (one finger touch/ both hands or external keyboard) email client has provisions to transform the web UI to give better interaction for the user and email system

Online kiosks: the alternative to mobile technologies for mobile users

Online kiosks have the potential to be a significant alternative to mobile technologies in retailing, information provision and service delivery. This article describes the development and use of different types of online kiosk in contexts where users are on the move and away from fixed technologies. A case study of a major UK airport terminal is used to illustrate different types of kiosk applications. Comparisons are made with mobile phone technologies. Online kiosks have a niche in allowing access to information, services and e-commerce technologies for all potential consumers. However, they also have a much wider role in self-managed, self-service delivery of information, services, goods and relationships to consumers on the move.</p

Talk to Text: Changing Communication Patterns

Abstract Dependence on mobile technology is continuing to grow, as the mobile phone becomes the all-in-one communication device with instant access to the Internet and a variety of functions for keeping in touch with others including text messaging, email, and social networking. People are primarily using mobile phones as replacements for their land lines. Mobile phones, and text messaging in particular, are rapidly becoming the preferred communication tools, in many cases replacing face-to-face or voice-to-voice communication. This exploratory study surveyed 168 participants at a mid-Atlantic university to determine if mobile technology is changing the way we communicate. Specifically, the survey attempted to answer two research questions: 1) Is text messaging replacing face-to-face and voice-to-voice communication?, and 2) How are the capabilities of mobile devices impacting how we communicate? This study seeks to determine how mobile technology, and specifically text messaging, is impacting our communication habits and proficiencies

Use and value of ICTS for separated families

This paper considers the ways in which ICT usage impacts upon the communication patterns of young people from separated and intact families. Based on two research projects – one quantitative and one qualitative – it explores the ways in which young people both use and value mobile phones and internet access as means of intervening in family communication patterns