Keystroke dynamics analyzes a person’s typing habits to create a unique digital signature, increasing computer security. It is a form of biometrics that can be used in combination with traditional access systems or in real-time monitoring mode. Keystroke dynamics require no specialized hardware and can strengthen existing access systems.
Typing dynamics, also known as typing dynamics, is the analysis of a person’s typing habits such as the amount of time a key is pressed or between keystrokes. Looking deeply into these habits can produce a unique pattern or profile for each individual. Keystroke is a form of biometrics and is considered a way to increase computer security; unlike a password, your typing habits cannot be easily intercepted or stolen. It can be used in combination with traditional access systems or in real-time monitoring mode.
Humans have a number of traits that are unique to each individual, for example, from the way someone walks to the way each person signs their name. As technology has advanced, these traits have begun to leave telltale patterns in new and unexpected places. Experienced telegraph operators, for example, could distinguish one another only by the unique style each operator had as he typed the dots and dashes of Morse code. Keystroke dynamics extends this principle into the age of modern technology, thus replacing the telegraph with a computer keyboard and the operator with a computer algorithm.
The simplest forms of keystroke dynamics are based on two simple parameters: the amount of time a key is held down, i.e. the dwell time, and the amount of time elapsed between releasing a key and pressing a key. other, known as time of flight. These two measurements can be recorded using a regular keyboard in a practice known as keystroke logging. Once registered, this data can be used to build a sort of unique digital signature for each user. Just like a handwritten signature, a digital signature varies only slightly each time a user types a certain set of characters such as a password. This means that a computer can apply algorithms to make a well-informed guess as to whether or not a user is who they claim to be.
Keystroke has been seen by some security experts as an inexpensive and less intrusive form of biometric technology. Biometrics, the use of physical and behavioral traits to identify an individual, can increase security but often require new systems that can be both expensive and intrusive. Key dynamics require no specialized hardware and can strengthen existing access systems; unlike a password, a user’s typing habits cannot be easily stolen or copied. Some industries, such as banking and healthcare, have started adopting this approach. For other fields that require constant attention from trained professionals such as air traffic control, keystroke dynamics can provide a continuous monitoring tool that detects both distraction or impairment as well as unauthorized access.
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