SNAPAUTH: A Gesture-based Unobtrusive Smartwatch User Authentication Scheme

In this paper, we present a novel motion-based unobtrusive behavioral biometric-based user authentication solution-SnapAuth, for Android-based smartwatch. SnapAuth requires the user to perform finger-snapping 5 action, while wearing the smartwatch (in the gesture performing arm), to perform the authentication. SnapAuth profiles the arm-movements by collecting data from smartwatch's built-in accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, while the user performs this action. We implemented and evaluated SnapAuth on Motorolla Moto 3G smartwatch. SnapAuth could be widely usable and acceptable as it utilizes the users' familiarity with the very common finger-snapping action and users do not need to remember any secret.