Ambient Sound Could Be The New Two-Factor Authentication System

Two-factor authentication is a great way to keep your online accounts safe. For those who are unfamiliar with two-factor authentication, basically what happens is that when you enter your regular password into the login page, you will then be prompted to enter another code. This code is generated on the spot and sent to your associated mobile device.

The code is only good for one use meaning that even if hackers knew your login ID and password, it would be very hard for them to bypass this second stage. That being said, it can be rather troublesome and slow, which is why researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, have come up with a more efficient and unique way of authenticating your logins.

Dubbed “Sound-Proof” It will rely on ambient sounds. What happens here is that when you login, both your phone and computer will start listening for ambient sounds. When it determines that both devices are listening to the same thing, it will log you in, meaning that if for some reason the hacker managed to steal your generated code but your smartphone is in a different location, they won’t be able to get in either.

For those who are concerned about their privacy, the system will only upload and verify the digital signatures of the sound, as opposed to the actual recording so anything you say won’t be shared. Of course the downside is that

Tyler Lee
Categories: General
Tags: Security