Source: Passfaces
Passfaces Corporation, the only provider of cognometric authentication solutions today announced its newest patent covering the unique Passfaces technology.
Passfaces Corporation holds the only patents in existence that covers cognometrics - the new (fourth) class of authentication.
Based on scientific insights into the working of the human mind, cognometrics represents a totally new class of authentication, which goes beyond "something you know", "something you have" or "something you are". In effect, cognometrics creates what can be called a mind print, as the user carries the required information for authentication in their brain. Everyone has this natural ability and Passfaces uses this science to provide strong authentication that is easy to use. Because using Passfaces requires no additional hardware or software it offers significant cost, security and usability advantages over competing technologies such as biometrics, tokens or smart cards.
The core cognometrics patent was granted in the US and in all important markets worldwide in 1999 to the UK subsidiary of Passfaces Corporation and covers an authentication method based on users recognizing and picking out familiar complex images, such as human faces, from amongst a number of other similar images. The latest patent covers the use of this efficient and secure means for authentication in distributed network environments – as implemented, for example, in the recently released Passfaces Financial 3.0 product.
"The grant of this new US patent is further recognition of the validity of the Passfaces cognometric authentication system and adds to our considerable catalog of unique intellectual property", said Paul Barrett, CEO of Passfaces. Passfaces uses the brain's natural power to recognize familiar faces. We all possess this capability regardless of age, language, or education. Passfaces uses this remarkable ability to provide highly secure and easy to use authentication as an "unforgettable" replacement for passwords or second authenticator in two-factor systems. "Passfaces' user-proof security, ease of integration, and inherent usability make it a natural choice for any online service requiring authentication. Passfaces is the only security technology I know that users are enthusiastic about using", added Barrett.