Lessons from Brain Age on password memorability

User authentication involves establishing a user's right to access a system. Most user authentication is done with text passwords, which have advantages over other approaches, but more secure passwords are often difficult to remember. Nintendo's Brain Age games involve cognitive training which can improve memory. We examined Brain Age in search of insights towards helping users create and remember more secure passwords. Although Brain Age offers no techniques for memorising specific information, we discovered ideas for a new type of serious game that may help with password memorisation: Password Rehearsal Games. Categories and Subject Descriptors K.6.5 [Management of computing and information systems]: Security and protection: Authentication; K.8.0 [Personal Computing]: General--games General Terms Design, Human Factors, Security Keywords Memory, passwords, serious games, usable security

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: FPLAY
• Authors: Alain Forget, Sonia Chiasson, Robert Biddle
• Keywords: Brain Age, Computer Graphics, FPLAY 2008, Secure Passwords, User Authentication