Objective
Passwords, passphrases and PINs have become a usability disaster. Even though they are convenient for implementers, they have been over-exploited, and are now increasingly unmanageable for end users, as well as insecure. The demands placed on users (passwords that are unguessable, all different, regularly changed and never written down) are no longer reasonable now that each person has to manage dozens of passwords. This project will develop and evaluate an alternative design based on a hardware token called Pico that relieves the user from having to remember passwords and PINs. Besides relieving the user from memorization efforts, the Pico solution scales to thousands of credentials, provides ``continuous authentication'' and is resistant to brute force guessing, dictionary attacks, phishing and keylogging. To promote adoption and interoperability, the Pico design has not been patented. The Principal Investigator has been invited to speak about Pico in three continents (including at USENIX Security 2011) since releasing the first draft of his design paper.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2012-StG_20111012
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.