Thermal Cameras Paired With AI Can Crack Passwords, New Study Reveals

Thermal cameras powered by artificial intelligence could be used to crack passwords, a new study says. Researchers at the University of Glasgow, Scotland recently published a paper highlighting how their "ThermoSecure" apparatus can figure out passwords based on key presses and taps on a smartphone screen. Freaky, right?

By pairing thermal cameras with AI, even the most complicated and long passwords could be cracked by this tool. It uses thermal imaging cameras and artificial intelligence to figure out 6-symbol, 8-symbol, 12-symbol, and even 16-symbol passwords.

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Using thermal cameras to crack passwords

Its creators say that the system's accuracy depends on the length of the password. During testing, ThermoSecure had an accuracy rate of 92% with 6-symbol passwords, 80% with 8-symbol passwords, 71% with 12-symbol passwords, and 55% with 16-symbol passwords. By taking thermal images within 30 seconds of a user feeding their password, the system's accuracy may be improved.

As Tom's Guide reported, various components of the apparatus are not expensive, and even a $150 (Rs. 12,273) thermal camera may be used to get the same results. But how does it work? Using an object detection technique, researchers were able to crack passwords easily.

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Also read: AI Can Crack 51% Of Common Passwords In Less Than A Minute: How To Stay Safe

The thermal camera takes pictures while the AI maps thermal images produced by the camera on the keys of a physical keyboard or a smartphone. Even though ThermoSecure was developed by researchers and not threat actors, it remains in safe hands, for now. Some hackers could attempt to reverse engineer ThermoSecure to crack people's confidential passwords.

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Also read: Apple, Google, And Microsoft Are Killing Traditional Passwords: What Will Change?

Even then, there are some safeguards in place. Users who type fast can escape such attacks, as opposed to "users who are hunt-and-peck typists." Also, keep your passwords versatile and strong - reflecting both alphabets and numbers.

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What do you think about ThermoSecure and the scope of password cracking? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.