The Two-factor system is definitely capable of protecting your various online accounts such as iCloud and Gmail, but it is quite annoying to use sometimes, as it involves generating a pass code or waiting to receive a text on your phone. Fortunately, the entire process of logging into your accounts using Two-factor will soon be considerably easier thanks to a team of researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. They have created a special tool called “Sound-Proof”, which makes use of ambient sounds in order to confirm your identity.
For example, if you’re trying to log in using your laptop, the tool fires up automatically on your phone and computer, and it listens for ambient sounds on both devices. If it determines that the sounds recorded by the devices are identical, it confirms your identity and allows you to access your account. Those of you who are concerned about privacy should know that the tool only uploads the digital signature of ambient sounds and not the sounds themselves. No extensions or extra downloads are needed for this application, which means that it can also be used on someone else’s computer without any issues.
The system is definitely not hacker-proof though, as someone who already knows your password can just follow you around until you are both in the same room in order to try to access your account. And since the tool fires up automatically without warning, you might not even be aware that you’re being hacked. The team members still have some time to perfect the application before they release it in its final form, so they will probably figure out some ways to make it a lot more secure than it is right now.
The concept itself is impressive, though. Don’t you agree?
Thank you Engadget for providing us with this information.
Cool sounding concept, can see it being useful for business users. I can also see it being dangerous, if someone steals your laptop, they will want you phone too, and then they might be willing to do more damage to you to take it.