Cybercriminals could be tracked 'by the way they type'

2010-03-25

Internet fraudsters could soon be identified by the way they use a keyboard, it emerged today (March 25th).

Researchers at Newcastle University have been developing a new type of technology which is able to pinpoint an individual's sex, age and culture within ten keystrokes.

Associate professor Roy Maxion monitored students as they entered an agreed password 400 times during tests at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Phil Butler, director of external relations at Newcastle University's Centre for Cybercrime and Computer Security, said Professor Maxion could identify the students with a 95 per cent success rate.

"As soon as you type ten numbers or letters he can work out your sex, your culture, your age and whether you have any hand injuries," he explained.

"In general, women's typing tends to flow more and is a little quicker. You'd expect men's typing to be a little more heavy-handed and apparently that's the case."

Mr Butler added that the technology - which can also be used in smartphones and at ATMs - could drastically reduce IT intrusions and help to target the perpetrators of internet grooming.

Newcastle University has one of the largest EU research portfolios in the UK.

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