SAFE Seamless Authentication For Everyone (SAFE Project)

Main funder

Funder's project number: 1610/31/2022

Funds granted by main funder (€)

Funding program

Project timetable

Project start date: 01/09/2022

Project end date: 31/08/2024

Summary

Password authentication is an important part of our lives for securing all information, finances and communication. They protect our accounts, giving access to services; and are critical to organizations and individual users alike. More importantly, they are used to protect the military and governments, electrical grids, and transport networks (such as air traffic control, and the rail network). However, the password mechanism is being undermined by users, which is resulting in countless security breaches and financial losses. Users nowadays have an immense number of accounts and passwords, which are continuing to rise. Many users struggle to cope with managing strong passwords; and will often choose convenience and/or memorability over security, by adopting insecure behaviors, such as creating weak passwords and reusing passwords. There are solutions to help with these problems, but due to the usability and questionable security of alternatives to passwords, these solutions have not managed to solve the key problems, and not replaced passwords. Therefore, there is a need for a new radical innovation which is developed with consideration of the root causes of the password issues; meeting the needs of the cybersecurity industry as well as the user. This project aims to develop such an innovation and prepare for its commercialization. To achieve these aims, a diverse team including researchers and business experts with competences in cybersecurity, user psychology, software engineering, business management, etc. will conduct research to develop the solution, and undertake commercialization activities with the purpose of developing this new authentication solution, that could potentially replace passwords. It is the radical change that is needed; and is ambitious, as it will aim to support all digital users, and services everywhere, and finally bringing authentication into the 21st Century.

Principal Investigator

Other persons related to this project (JYU)

Primary responsible unit

Follow-up groups

Profiling area: Cyber security (University of Jyväskylä JYU)