Normal apps can usually get the accelerometer data without breaking device security. So you download the newest cool free Mine Birds or whatnot, and its server upload traffic eventually includes guesses at your passcode along with your game status... George William Herbert Sent from my iPhone On Feb 19, 2013, at 8:07 AM, "Naslund, Steve" <SNaslund@medline.com> wrote:
Kind of seems to me that if I am deep enough in your mobile device to get your accelerometer data, I probably can get access to your stored data in the device. The only reason I think I would want your passcode would be to physically steal your device and then try to use it.
This is one of those attacks that is probably possible but not practical. Interesting blog however.
Steven Naslund
-----Original Message----- From: Jay Ashworth [mailto:jra@baylink.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 9:20 AM To: NANOG Subject: Endpoint Security and Smartphones
Some time back, the FBI was heard to say in public that draw-your-passpattern security, as seen on Android smartphones and tablets, was too much for them, at least as long as you kept your screen clean of skin oil. :-)
Whether or not that's true, there are apparently ways to attack even that, using just the sensors on the platform. Specifically, the accelerometers (which are actually usually just angle sensors):
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/02/guessing_smart.html
If you're responsible for security, BTW (and if you're on NANOG, you probably are), Bruce Schneier should be on your daily bookmark list... even if you think he's full of crap.
Cheers, -- jra -- Jay R. Ashworth Baylink jra@baylink.com Designer The Things I Think RFC 2100 Ashworth & Associates http://baylink.pitas.com 2000 Land Rover DII St Petersburg FL USA #natog +1 727 647 1274