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West Virginia University

Username and password verification through keystroke dynamics

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Most computer systems rely on usernames and passwords as a mechanism for access control and authentication of authorized users. These credential sets offer marginal protection to a broad scope of applications with differing levels of sensitivity. Traditional physiological biometric systems such as fingerprint, face, and iris recognition are not readily deployable in remote authentication schemes. Keystroke dynamics provide the ability to combine the ease of use of username/password schemes with the increased trustworthiness associated with biometrics. Our research extends previous work on keystroke dynamics by incorporating shift-key patterns. The system is capable of operating at various points on a traditional ROC curve depending on application specific security needs. A 1% False Accept Rate is attainable at a 14% False Reject Rate for high security systems. An Equal Error Rate of 5% can be obtained in lower security systems. As a username password authentication scheme, our approach decreases the penetration rate associated with compromised passwords by 95--99%.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
MS
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Year dc:date.available
2005

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Bartlow, Nick
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Bojan Cukic.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-2579

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
West Virginia University
Base URL
researchrepository.wvu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Bartlow, Nick. Username and password verification through keystroke dynamics. Thesis thesis, 2005. https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.1576