Passthoughts, Not Passwords: Authentication Via Brainwaves

CowboyRobot writes "A new study by researchers from the U.C. Berkeley School of Information examined the brainwave signals of individuals performing specific actions to see if they can be consistently matched to the right individual. To measure the subjects' brainwaves, the team utilized the NeuroSky Mindset, a Bluetooth headset that records Electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. In the end, the team was able to match the brainwave signals with 99% accuracy (pdf). 'We are not trying to trace back from a brainwave signal to a specific person,' explains Prof. John Chuang, who led the team. 'That would be a much more difficult problem. Rather, our task is to determine if a presented brainwave signal matches the brainwave signals previously submitted by the user when they were setting up their pass-thought.'"

Walk by lockouts

[jbmartin6]

Great, now anyone walking by can lock out my account with failed auth attempts

Never Work

[Greyfox]

I'm afraid that wouldn't work for several of my past managers. Heey-oh!

Re:Walk by lockouts

[ByOhTek]

I'm more worried about them realizing I'm not human, from my brain waves. I don't want to go back to my homeworld! Also, how much testing did they do to ensure there aren't issues with emotional state or distraction? If I had a family even and was stuck listening to Beyonce or Katy Perry thanks to my sister's atrocious taste in "music"... Is having that crap stuck in my head going to prevent a login?

Think happy thoughts

[mwvdlee]

So now every time I want to gain access I have to think the same thing I thought when I first entered the passthought.
"Okay, no thinking of naked girls now, anything but naked girls. Betty White! Yes, Betty White completely dressed, dressed in sexy lingerie... oh god, not that either, that's horri*".
"thank you, passthough recorded".

I'm thinking of a word.

[PPH]

Please try another thought password. "Tits" is not sufficiently secure.