Wearables could be giving away your passwords and PINs: research

PanARMENIAN.Net - Just when you thought your fancy wearable was simplifying daily life and making your friends jealous, it turns out it could also be a big security burden, Digital Spy said.

According to researchers from Binghamton University and the Stevens Institute of Technology, you don't even need to have the sensitive data stored on your smart device to be affected - simply typing it in can leave you at risk.

Using 20 adults over 11 months, the team tested an algorithm against 5,000 key-entry tests on three key-based security systems. The results found that passwords could be cracked with ease - 80% on the first attempt and 90% after three attempts - based solely on the motion data it collects.

This is the data stored when you make use of those accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers embedded inside when navigating around your smartwatch or fitness tracker.

Unfortunately, due to various designs and their limited computing power, improving security is difficult. The research team, though, suggests that more has to be done to provide stronger encryption for the motion data stream.

If this does indeed become a method used by hackers to access your passwords and PINs, researchers say you can throw off the potential chaos by inputting the digits with your other, non-wearable-wearing hand or intentionally disrupting your own flow between presses.