Password Management Using Doodles

Overview

The average computer user needs to remember a large number of text username and password combinations for different applications, which places a large cognitive load on the user. Consequently users tend to write down passwords, use easy to remember (and guess) passwords, or use the same password for multiple applications, leading to security risks. This paper describes the use of personalized hand-drawn "Doodles" for recall and management of password information. Since doodles can be easier to remember than text passwords, the cognitive load on the user is reduced. The method involves recognizing doodles by matching them against stored prototypes using handwritten shape matching techniques. The paper has built a system which manages passwords for web applications through a web browser.