A company called PINoptic says it has a new picture-based security mechanism to make smartphones more secure.
The company claims that its new software will make a smartphone 37 times more secure than using a simple four-digit personal identification number.
As smartphones become increasingly popular, experts warn they could be targets for hackers. These devices provide access to corporate networks, email accounts, and sometimes corporate data. Stolen smartphones can also provide criminals with plenty of information to steal personal identities. And because they're made to be portable, smartphones can be lifted easily from pockets or purses or even left behind in taxi cabs or some other place people might travel.
Currently, the most popular way to secure a smartphone is using a four-digit PIN. But all hackers have to do is watch someone punch in their PIN to learn the pattern.
PINoptics software allows users to set a pass code using images rather than numbers. The images are placed randomly on different numbers or letters each time someone logs in. Users push the correct image sequence to get access to the device, rather than the same number pattern. This makes it more difficult for anyone watching a user log in to figure out the PIN simply by watching which keys are pressed.
In fact, PINoptic claims that a hacker would have to watch someone enter their login at least 10 times before being able to crack the code.
Several banks and credit-card companies have also beefed up security to their websites by using pictures as a way to verify identity. Some websites require users to click on an image after they've signed in with a username and password to authenticate access.
