So far when it comes to authenticating ourselves to our own computers, we have the password which is typed in, facial recognition via the computer’s webcam, and even thumbprint scanning, but what about picture passwords? Well if that is the first time you’ve heard of it, when Windows 8 is launched, expect picture passwords one of the security features on the operating system.

According to Microsoft’s blog, picture passwords entail the user selecting an image of their choice and then drawing out a series of gestures to help authenticate legitimate users. These gestures can consist of lines, circles and even taps as pictured above in the example screenshot. However according to the inventor of RSA’s SecurID token, Kenneth Weiss, he doesn’t seem to think that this is “serious security”.

His argument is that those viewing from afar will be able to discern and even video tape the user making their gestures, thus figuring out the correct “picture”. We agree but fret not as Microsoft has no intentions of making this the main form of logging in, but will instead serve as an additional layer of security over primary method of authentication. If you’d like to learn more about Microsoft’s “picture password” feature on Windows 8, more information can be found on Microsoft’s Building Windows 8 blog.

Source: Ubergizmo

Windows 8 feature picture passwords

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