Efficient locking scheme with OPOF on smart devices

Abstract

Due to the rapid development of touch screens, smart devices have become immensely popular. Different smart devices, such as digital cameras, televisions, door-lock systems, tablet PCs, and smart phones, now have touch screens. Many functions on which people depend are built into such smart devices, and people may now use their smart phones to perform the same tasks they once carried out on desktop PCs. Therefore, touch screens have become popular due to the convenience and ease of use that they offer to users. However, the development of software application programs for popular smart devices focuses on providing diverse functions, therefore creating a risk of personal information leakage. In addition, portability is one of the advantages of smart devices; however, this also means that they may be lost, which is one of their disadvantages. Consequently, different lock functions have been created for information protection. Such lock functions include a different screen being displayed without a security function, a personal identification number (PIN) function, an existing button method, and pattern lock. However, PIN and pattern lock are very vulnerable to shoulder surfing or smudge attack. In this paper, the researcher proposes One Push out Free (OPOF), a function that provides users with an intuitive and easy interface and heightened security for their smart devices. Under OPOF, the pattern that a user input for the lock screen is perceived in different ways. This reduces the risk element for the pattern to be leaked by a third party's unlocking of the locked screen, and when the pattern is incorrectly input, another input mode is provided, heightening security and providing convenience through a simple interface. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.