Are you tired of typing in the same passwords over and over again? Well that’s your first mistake, in regards to using the same passwords. But seriously, passwords are becoming more and more frustrating, since just about everywhere requires some type of unique password just to check Reddit or your email, or Pinterest. Anyways, one of the many things introduced or announced at this year’s Google I/O was from the same team that is working on Project Ara (the modular phone).
Google’s ATAP team is working on a little project called Project Abacus, which is being developed to take some of the burden off of your brain when it comes to remembering your password. Project Abacus will eventually (hopefully) take over the traditional password as we know it, and will take a few different signals into account to determine whether it’s really you using your phone. This project will analyze the way you type, walk, and talk then use that data to determine who is using your phone.
So if someone that isn’t you is using your phone, Project Abacus will be able to tell the difference and immediately go through a series of security measures to ensure that your private and sometimes vital information, is protected. If executed correctly, with the influx of devices with fingerprint scanners, these phones will be able to feel like they’re a version of Fort Knox for your information, in the palm of your hand.
Now it hasn’t been mentioned exactly how this will be rolled out, or put into effect, or what kind of effect it will have on your password library. However it’s pretty darn cool to see what “smaller” projects the various divisions of Google are working on. We’ve already seen what ATAP has up their sleeves with Project Soli, Vault, and Jacquard, so go ahead and add Project Abacus to the list.
What do you think about what the ATAP team is hoping to do in regards to getting rid of the traditional password altogether? Is it a good move, bad move, or are you indifferent because you use a service such as 1Password or Dashlane to keep all of your passwords protected. Just as a friendly reminder, be sure to change or update your passwords at least once every six months. Just for the sake of security.
