Drawing “signature” on screen could replace passwords, study finds

Many smartphone users leave their devices entirely unprotected, but even those who choose a four-digit PIN are vulnerable to “shoulder surfers” glimpsing the code and using it later – but a new form of password could come to the rescue, according to Rutgers University researchers.

Current “join the dots” patterns used as locks on some Android devices are similar to PIN pads, and easily observed by lurking “surfers” – but a Rutgers University team found that freeform “squiggly” patterns were more memorable than expected, and less easy for an attacker to memorise and gain unauthorized access.

Drawing “signature” on screen could replace passwords, study finds