"The End of Text-Based Passwords? TIM Provides a New Solution"

In a new study, computer scientists from the University of Surrey present an image-based authentication system for mobile phones called Transparent Image Moving (TIM) that helps lower the risk of shoulder surfing attacks. Shoulder surfing is a security attack in which a malicious actor records sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card details, typed by a victim on a computer or mobile device by looking over their shoulder or from a distance. Shoulder surfing incidents often take place at airports, coffee shops, and other crowded public settings. The TIM authentication system makes users choose and move predefined images to a designated position for passing authentication checks. The proof-of-concept (PoC) study revealed that 85 percent of TIM users believed that it could help protect them from password guessing and shoulder surfing attacks. In addition, 71 percent of participants believe TIM is a more usable image-based solution than others on the market. This article continues to discuss the TIM authentication systems developed for mobile phones to help reduce the risk of shoulder surfing attacks.

The University of Surrey reports "The End of Text-Based Passwords? Tim Provides a New Solution"