SNAPAUTH: A Gesture-based Unobtrusive Smartwatch User Authentication Scheme

Author (ESR): 
Sandeep Gupta (Universita Degli Studi Di Trento)
Authors: 
Attaullah Buriro
Bruno Crispo
Mojtaba Eskandri
Athar Mahboob
Rutger Van Acker

In this paper, we present a novel motion-based unobtrusive behavioral biometric-based user authentication solution-SnapAuth, for Android-based smartwatch. SnapAuth requires the user to perform a fingersnapping action, while wearing the smartwatch (in the gesture performing arm), to perform the authentication. SnapAuth profiles the arm-movements by collecting data from smartwatch’s built-in accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, while the user performs this action. We implemented and evaluated SnapAuth on Motorolla Moto 3G smartwatch. SnapAuth could be widely usable and acceptable as it utilizes the users’ familiarity with the very common finger-snapping action and users do not need to remember any secret.

Venue: 
1st International Workshop on Emerging Technologies for Authorization and Authentication (Co-Located with ESORICS 2018)