Graphical Passwords and Practical Password Management
Elizabeth Stobert · 2015
Text passwords pose a number of difficulties for end users, who must create, remember, and manage large numbers of passwords.Users are often regarded as the weak link in security systems, but they are a crucial component of the system, and need to be better considered in the design of security products.Many password alternatives have been proposed, but none have successfully replaced ordinary text passwords, and the potential consequences of password problems grow as more information relating to work and life is stored online.This thesis explores practical approaches to helping users select, securely reuse, and manage passwords, and investigates questions about password alternatives.The attention is on the end user, and how authentication affects these users in their daily lives.Our focus is on practical, actionable results to assist end users in their daily tasks.I can't begin to list what I've learned from my supervisor, Robert Biddle.Robert's enthusiasm and broad knowledge are an inspiration and made working with him a pleasure.Thank you for showing me that I could combine all of my areas of interest, and believing that I could be good at this.I would also like to thank my mentor Sonia Chiasson, for her advice, friendship, career inspiration, and not least for answering all of my questions.My friends and family have provided me with so much love and support throughout my time as a student.I'd like to thank my parents for their unwavering enthusiasm, and especially thank my mum for sharing her statistics expertise and being a fantastic role model.I'd also like to thank my friend Emily Miller-Cushon for her discussion