Apple Exploring Alternatives to Traditional Passwords with Photo Identification as Authentication

MacRumors · Feb 11, 2013, 01:40 PM

With Apple's interest in a smart watch gaining renewed attention, there has been a considerable amount of speculation about what the company might try to do with such a device. Some of the speculation has pointed out that a watch could provide a good alternative to traditional passcodes by using watch proximity to grant a user access to systems and apps.

Apple is apparently looking at other alternatives for traditional password security as well, as highlighted in a patent application published late last week and spotted by Patently Apple.

The patent application describes a system that would display one or more photos stored on a device and ask the owner to identify them. The document mentions voice entry as one method of identification, using the example of a photo from the owner's Contacts database.

Quote:

For example, after displaying an image that depicts a face of the user's sister Jane, the user may speak aloud, "Jane" ... Alternatively, step 120 might also include displaying ... a set of names. Then, as part of step 130, the user selects one of the displayed names that the user believes identifies the object.

The patent application suggests that the user would be able to choose the number of photos required to access the device, in the same way they already choose between simple and complex passcodes on an iPhone or iPad.

Apple previously filed for a patent on an approach similar to Android's Face Unlock feature, where the phone unlocks when it recognizes the face of the owner through the front-facing camera, though it was discovered soon after it debuted that the system could be easily fooled by using a photo of the owner displayed on another handset. Additional innovations such as a "Liveness Check" requiring that the user blink for Face Unlock to function have, however, been developed to increase security.

Article Link: Apple Exploring Alternatives to Traditional Passwords with Photo Identification as Authentication

underkuerbis · 03:32 PM

Geez, I'm not good with names...
I don't approve

Rudy69 · Feb 11, 2013, 01:44 PM

Get in an accident, get disfigured....can't use your phone

charlituna · Feb 11, 2013, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by underkuerbis

Geez, I'm not good with names...

I don't approve!

Well i doubt this would be the only option.

I have no real issue with Apple providing a variety of schemes we can use, singularly or in a stack of our choice.

bradgfromboo · Feb 11, 2013, 01:49 PM

Keep copying those android features apple you got this!

The Phazer · Feb 11, 2013, 01:59 PM

I really can't think of any scenario in which this would work.

I wouldn't want my photos displayed without my passcode being entered. That's one of the things it's there to prevent.

Unggoy Murderer · Feb 11, 2013, 02:21 PM

The Android Face Unlock feature is pathetic. I could use my friends Facebook profile picture to unlock it.

I still can't see Apple's system being fool proof. I mean, what if you know a lot about that particular person, like you're a family member or something. At this time, there isn't any better options than the passcode unlock, or Android's "join the dots" thing. (However, you can look for pattern smudges, tap marks on the screen)

Mr. Retrofire · Feb 11, 2013, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudy69

Get in an accident, get disfigured....can't use your phone

In that case, you have probably more important problems.

aloharaz · Feb 11, 2013, 02:26 PM

Remember this? "My voice is my password"

appletoandroid · Feb 11, 2013, 02:40 PM

Here comes Apple, late to the party as usual. But they'll still call it innovative b/c it's Apple.

DJAKO · Feb 11, 2013, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by appletoandroid

Here comes Apple, late to the party as usual. But they'll still call it innovative b/c it's Apple.

They will just do it better, per usual.

ChristianJapan · Feb 11, 2013, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aloharaz

Remember this? "My voice is my password"

... As long you don't have a heavy cold and can't speak clearly ... Or in a noisy environment ... Or a very silent one ...

Don't think voice is a good option; for login.

Images and gestures are more flexible.

pubwvj · Feb 11, 2013, 03:06 PM

This idea is very prone to error. I would simply rather remember my passwords.

DJAKO · Feb 11, 2013, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristianJapan

... As long you don't have a heavy cold and can't speak clearly ... Or in a noisy environment ... Or a very silent one ...

Don't think voice is a good option; for login.

Images and gestures are more flexible.

How would a very silent environment be bad in your example?

Nimrad · Feb 11, 2013, 03:14 PM

People keep forgetting Apple's policy. They have tons of patents that never make it to the product because of their very high requirements. This will probably not be one the (I like to say) few mistakes as Google already showed us how not to do this.

ChristianJapan · Feb 11, 2013, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJAKO

How would a very silent environment be bad in your example?

Think about you are in a school class or church and while session is going on you want to check email. I'm sure many people will look at you because you break the silence while unlocking your phone.

nostaws · 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aloharaz

Remember this? "My voice is my password"

Actually, I am pretty sure that it was "My voice is my passport. Verify me."

That was the problem in the movie. How do you get someone to casually say "passport."

Renzatic · Feb 11, 2013, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Retrofire

In that case, you have probably more important problems.

All I WANT TO DO IS GET IN MY ICLOUD ACCOUNT, APPLE! I AM NOT AN ANIMAL! I AM A HUMAN BEING! I AM A MAN!

...wow. I'm all about quoting the classics today.

Verbatim Cookie · Feb 11, 2013, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Quote:

For example, after displaying an image that depicts a face of the user's sister Jane, the user may speak aloud, "Jane, you ignorant slut" ...

FTFY

komodrone · Feb 11, 2013, 03:29 PM

(delete)

Razeus · Feb 11, 2013, 03:46 PM

They are just NOW doing this? No wonder The Woz says they are falling behind.

coolspot18 · Feb 11, 2013, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristianJapan

... As long you don't have a heavy cold and can't speak clearly ... Or in a noisy environment ... Or a very silent one ...

A cold does not affect voice biometrics; voice verification would still work.

olowott · Feb 11, 2013, 04:24 PM

late to the party - thats true

we just make it better and way cooler

Matthew Yohe · Feb 11, 2013, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradgfromboo

Keep copying those android features apple you got this!

Which feature is this copying?

ArtOfWarfare · Feb 11, 2013, 05:09 PM

This article seems a lot more front page worthy than the "This is an iPhone 5 clone, not an iPhone 5S prototype" article.

Feb 11, 2013, 01:43 PM	#2
underkuerbis macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Bremen, Germany	Geez, I'm not good with names... I don't approve Last edited by underkuerbis; Feb 11, 2013 at 03:32 PM. Reason: sarcasm
	0

Feb 11, 2013, 01:44 PM	#3
Rudy69 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2009	Get in an accident, get disfigured....can't use your phone __________________ My Games: Tangled; QuadPong; West Code Studios
	5

Feb 11, 2013, 01:59 PM	#6
The Phazer macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London, UK	I really can't think of any scenario in which this would work. I wouldn't want my photos displayed without my passcode being entered. That's one of the things it's there to prevent. __________________ http://twitter.com/thephazer
	6

Feb 11, 2013, 02:21 PM	#7
Unggoy Murderer macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Livingston, Scotland	The Android Face Unlock feature is pathetic. I could use my friends Facebook profile picture to unlock it. I still can't see Apple's system being fool proof. I mean, what if you know a lot about that particular person, like you're a family member or something. At this time, there isn't any better options than the passcode unlock, or Android's "join the dots" thing. (However, you can look for pattern smudges, tap marks on the screen) __________________ 27" iMac, i7 3.4GHz, 16GB RAM 13" MBP 2.66 GHz, 8GB RAM 3rd Gen iPad 64 GB Wifi+4G, iOS 5.1 iPhone 5 32 GB, iOS 6.0 Mac Mini 2.00 GHz, 2GB RAM
	4

Feb 11, 2013, 02:40 PM	#10
appletoandroid macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2013	Here comes Apple, late to the party as usual. But they'll still call it innovative b/c it's Apple. __________________ 2011 13" Macbook Air \| Apple TV \| Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 \| Samsung Galaxy S2
	1

Feb 11, 2013, 01:49 PM	#5
bradgfromboo macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2012	Keep copying those android features apple you got this!
	9

Feb 11, 2013, 02:26 PM	#9
aloharaz macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2009	Remember this? "My voice is my password"
	5

Feb 11, 2013, 03:06 PM	#13
pubwvj macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mountains of Vermont	This idea is very prone to error. I would simply rather remember my passwords. __________________ -Walter Jeffries Sugar Mountain Farm Pastured Pigs, Chickens & Kids in the mountains of Vermont http://SugarMtnFarm.com
	2

Feb 11, 2013, 03:14 PM	#15
Nimrad macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2010	People keep forgetting Apple's policy. They have tons of patents that never make it to the product because of their very high requirements. This will probably not be one the (I like to say) few mistakes as Google already showed us how not to do this.
	0

Feb 11, 2013, 03:29 PM	#20
komodrone macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2011	(delete)
	0

Feb 11, 2013, 03:46 PM	#21
Razeus macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2008	They are just NOW doing this? No wonder The Woz says they are falling behind. __________________ Twitter \| Google+ \| Tumblr
	1

Feb 11, 2013, 04:24 PM	#23
olowott macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dundee, UK	late to the party - thats true we just make it better and way cooler __________________ 2011 13" Macbook pr-- iPhone 4s 16gb -- iPAD 2 32gb
	0

Feb 11, 2013, 05:09 PM	#25
ArtOfWarfare macrumors 68040 Join Date: Nov 2007	This article seems a lot more front page worthy than the "This is an iPhone 5 clone, not an iPhone 5S prototype" article.
	0

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