Special Issue - 2015 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)

ISSN: 2278-0181
NCETEMS-2015 Conference Proceedings

More Secured Authentication: 3D Password

Parul1, Neetu Sharma2
1,2
Department of Computer Science and Engineering,
Ganga Institute of Technology and Management,
Kablana, Jhajjar, Haryana, India

Abstract—Current authentication systems suffer from many open on the screen. In our case, let’s say a virtual garage.
weaknesses. Textual passwords are commonly used; however, Now in a day to day garage one will find all sorts of tools,
users do not follow their requirements. Users tend to choose equipments, etc.each of them having unique properties.
meaningful words from dictionaries, which make textual The user will then interact with these properties
passwords easy to break and vulnerable to dictionary or brute
accordingly. Each object in the 3D space, can be moved
force attacks. Many available graphical passwords have a
password space that is less than or equal to the textual around in an (x,y,z) plane. That’s the moving attribute of
password space. Smart cards or tokens can be stolen. Many each object. This property is common to all the objects in
biometric authentications have been proposed; however, users the space. Suppose a user logs in and enters the garage. He
tend to resist using biometrics because of their intrusiveness sees and picks a screw-driver (initial position in xyz
and the effect on their privacy. Moreover, biometrics cannot coordinates (5, 5, 5)) and moves it 5 places to his right (in
be revoked. In this paper, we present and evaluate our XY plane i.e. (10, 5, 5).That can be identified as an
contribution, i.e., the 3-D password. The 3-D password is a authentication. Only the true user understands and
multifactor authentication scheme. To be authenticated, we recognizes the object which he has to choose among many.
present a 3-D virtual environment where the user navigates
This is the Recall and Recognition part of human memory
and interacts with various objects. The sequence of actions
and interactions toward the objects inside the 3-D coming into play. Interestingly, a password can be set as
environment constructs the user’s 3-D password. The 3-D approaching a radio and setting its frequency to number
password can combine most existing authentication schemes only the user knows. Security can be enhanced by the fact
such as textual passwords, graphical passwords, and various of including Cards and Biometric scanner as input. There
types of biometrics into a 3-D virtual environment. The design can be levels of authentication a user can undergo.
of the 3-D virtual environment and the type of objects selected
determine the 3-D password key space. II. EXISTING SYSTEM
Keywords- 3-D password, authentication, biometric, virtual Current authentication systems suffer from many
environment weaknesses. Textual passwords are commonly used. Users
tend to choose meaningful words from dictionaries, which
I. INTRODUCTION
make textual passwords easy to break and vulnerable to
Users nowadays are provided with major password dictionary or brute force attacks. Many available graphical
stereotypes such as textual passwords, biometric scanning, passwords have a password space that is less than or equal
tokens or cards (such as an ATM) etc .Mostly textual to the textual password space. Smart cards or tokens can be
passwords follow an encryption algorithm as mentioned stolen. Many biometric authentications have been
above. Biometric scanning is your "natural" signature and proposed. However, users tend to resist using biometrics
Cards or Tokens prove your validity. But some people hate because of their intrusiveness and the effect on their
the fact to carry around their cards, some refuse to undergo privacy. Moreover, biometrics cannot be revoked. The
strong IR exposure to their retinas(Biometric 3Dpassword is a multi factor authentication scheme. The
scanning).Mostly textual passwords, nowadays, are kept design of the 3D virtual environment and the type of
very simple say a word from the dictionary or their pet objects selected determine the 3D password key space.
names, girlfriends etc. Years back Klein performed such User have freedom to select whether the 3D password will
tests and he could crack 10-15 passwords per day. Now be solely recall, recognition, or token based, or
with the technology change, fast processors and many tools combination of two schemes or more.
on the Internet this has become a Child's Play.
DRAWBACKS IN EXISTING SYSTEM
Therefore we present our idea, the 3D passwords which are
Textual Passwords: Textual passwords should be easy to
more customizable and very interesting way of
remember at the same time hard to guess. But if a textual
authentication. Now the passwords are based on the fact of
password is hard to guess then it will also be hard to
Human memory. Generally simple passwords are set so as
remember.
to quickly recall them. The human memory, in our scheme
has to undergo the facts of Recognition, Recalling, Graphical Passwords: They are based on idea that users
Biometrics or Token based authentication. Once can recall and recognize pictures better than words. Some
implemented and you log in to a secure site, the 3D graphical schemes require a long time to perform. They are
password GUI opens up. This is an additional textual vulnerable to shoulder surfing attacks.
password which the user can simply put. Once he goes
through the first authentication, a 3D virtual room will

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Special Issue - 2015 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
NCETEMS-2015 Conference Proceedings

Biometrics: Many biometric schemes have been proposed; decision to construct the desired and preferred 3D
fingerprints, palm prints, hand geometry, face recognition, password.
voice recognition,
iris recognition, and retina recognition are all different
biometric schemes. Each biometric recognition scheme has
its advantages and disadvantages based on several factors
such as consistency, uniqueness, and acceptability. One of
the main drawbacks of applying biometrics is its
intrusiveness upon a user’s personal characteristic.
Moreover, retina biometrical recognition schemes require
the user to willingly subject their eyes to a low-intensity
infrared light. In addition, most biometric systems require a
special scanning device to authenticate users, which is not
applicable for remote and Internet users.
III. PROPOSED SYSTEM
The proposed system is a multi factor authentication
scheme that combines the benefits of various authentication
schemes. Users have the freedom to select whether the 3D
password will be solely recall, biometrics, recognition, or
token based, or a combination of two schemes or more.
This freedom of selection is necessary because users are
different and they have different requirements. Therefore,
to ensure high user acceptability, the user’s freedom of Fig1. State diagram
selection is important.
3.2 SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
The following requirements are satisfied in the proposed
scheme The 3D password is a multi factor authentication scheme.
The 3D password presents a 3D virtual environment
1. The new scheme provide secrets that are easy to containing various virtual objects. The user navigates
remember and very difficult for intruders to guess. through this environment and interacts with the objects.
2. The new scheme provides secrets that are not easy to The 3D password is simply the combination and the
write down on paper. Moreover, the scheme secrets should sequence of user interactions that occur in the 3D virtual
be difficult to share with others. environment. The 3D password can combine recognition,
recall, token, and biometrics based systems into one
3. The new scheme provides secrets that can be easily authentication scheme. This can be done by designing a 3D
revoked or changed. virtual environment that contains objects that request
3.1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM information to be recalled, information to be recognized,
tokens to be presented, and biometric data to be verified.
The proposed system is a multi factor authentication
scheme. It can combine all existing authentication schemes For example, the user can enter the virtual environment and
into a single 3D virtual environment .This 3D virtual type something on a computer that exists in (x1 , y1 , z1 )
environment contains several objects or items with which position, then enter a room that has a fingerprint
the user can interact. The user is presented with this 3D recognition device that exists in a position (x2 , y2 , z2 )
virtual environment where the user navigates and interacts and provide his/her fingerprint. Then, the user can go to the
with various objects. The sequence of actions and virtual garage, open the car door, and turn on the radio to a
interactions toward the objects inside the 3D environment specific channel. The combination and the sequence of the
constructs the user’s 3D password. The 3D password can previous actions toward the specific objects construct the
combine most existing authentication schemes such as user’s 3D password.
textual passwords, graphical passwords, and various types Virtual objects can be any object that we encounter in real
of biometrics into a 3D virtual environment. The choice of life. Any obvious actions and interactions toward the real
what authentication schemes will be part of the user's 3D life objects can be done in the virtual 3D environment
password reflects the user's preferences and requirements. toward the virtual objects. Moreover, any user input (such
A user who prefers to remember and recall a password as speaking in a specific location) in the virtual 3D
might choose textual and graphical password as part of environment can be considered as a part of the 3D
their 3D password. On the other hand users who have more password.
difficulty with memory or recall might prefer to choose
smart cards or biometrics as part of their 3D password. We can have the following objects:
Moreover user who prefers to keep any kind of biometric 1) A computer with which the user can type;
data private might not interact with object that requires
biometric information. Therefore it is the user's choice and 2) A fingerprint reader that requires the user’s fingerprint;

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Special Issue - 2015 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
NCETEMS-2015 Conference Proceedings

3) A biometric recognition device; (4, 34, 18) Action = Typing, “F”;

4) A paper or a white board that a user can write, sign, or (4, 34, 18) Action = Typing, “A”;
draw on;
(4, 34, 18) Action = Typing, “L”;
5) An automated teller machine (ATM) that requests a
(4, 34, 18) Action = Typing, “C”;
token;
(4, 34, 18) Action = Typing, “O”;
6) A light that can be switched on/off;
(4, 34, 18) Action = Typing, “N”;
7) A television or radio where channels can be selected;
8) A staple that can be punched;
9) A car that can be driven;
10) A book that can be moved from one place to another;
11) Any graphical password scheme;
12) Any real life object;
13) Any upcoming authentication scheme.

The action toward an object (assume a fingerprint

recognition device) that exists in location (x1, y1 , z1 ) is
different from the actions toward a similar object (another
fingerprint recognition device) that exists in location (x2 , Fig 2. User entering textual password in 3D environment
y2 , z2 ), where x1 = x2 , y1 = y2 , and z1 = z2 . Therefore,
to perform the legitimate 3D password, the user must
follow the same scenario performed by the legitimate user. 3D VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT DESIGN GUIDELINES
This means interacting with the same objects that reside at
the exact locations and perform the exact actions in the The design of the 3 D virtual environments affects the
proper sequence. usability, effectiveness, acceptability of 3D password. The
first step in building a 3D password system is to design a
IV. 3D PASSWORD SELECTION AND INPUT 3D environment that reflects the administration needs and
Let us consider a 3D virtual environment space of size G the security requirements. The design of 3D virtual
×G × G. The 3D environment space is represented by the environments should follow these guidelines.
coordinates (x, y, z) ∈ [1, . . . , G] ×[1, . . . , G] ×[1, . . . , 1) Real Life Similarity The prospective 3D virtual
G]. The objects are distributed in the 3D virtual environment should reflect what people are used to
environment with unique (x, y, z) coordinates. We assume seeing in real life. Objects used in virtual environments
that the user can navigate into the 3D virtual environment should be relatively similar in size to real objects
and interact with the objects using any input device such as (sized to scale). Possible actions and interactions
a mouse, key board, fingerprint scanner, iris scanner, toward virtual objects should reflect real life situations.
stylus, card reader, and microphone. We consider the Object responses should be realistic. The target should
sequence of those actions and interactions using the have a 3D virtual environment that users can interact
previous input devices as the user’s 3D password. 2) Object uniqueness and distinction every virtual object
or item in the 3D virtual environment is different from
For example, consider a user who navigates through the 3D
any other virtual object. The uniqueness comes from
virtual environment that consists of an office and a meeting
the fact that every virtual object has its own attributes
room. Let us assume that the user is in the virtual office
such as position. Thus, the prospective interaction with
and the user turns around to the door located in (10, 24, 91)
object 1 is not equal to the interaction with object 2.
and opens it. Then, the user closes the door. The user then
However, having similar objects such as 20 computers
finds a computer to the left, which exists in the position (4,
in one place might confuse the user. Therefore, the
34, 18), and the user types “FALCON.” Then, the user
design of the 3D virtual environment should consider
walks to the meeting room and picks up a pen located at
that every object should be distinguishable from other
(10, 24, 80) and draws only one dot in a paper located in
objects. Similarly, in designing a 3D virtual
(1, 18, 30), which is the dot (x, y) coordinate relative to the
environment, it should be easy for users to navigate
paper space is (330, 130). The user then presses the login
through and to distinguish between objects. The
button. The initial representation of user actions in the
distinguishing factor increases the user’s recognition
3Dvirtual environment can be recorded as follows:
of objects. Therefore, it improves the system usability.
(10, 24, 91) Action = Open the office door; 3) Three Dimensional Virtual Environment Size A 3D
virtual environment can depict a city or even the
(10, 24, 91) Action = Close the office door;
world. On the other hand, it can depict a space as

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Special Issue - 2015 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
NCETEMS-2015 Conference Proceedings

focused as a single room or office. A large 3D virtual To analyze and study how secure a system is, we have to
environment will increase the time required by the user consider,
to perform a 3D password. Moreover, a large 3D
• How hard it is for the attacker to break such a system
virtual environment can contain a large number of
virtual objects. Therefore, the probable 3D password ▪ A possible measurement is based on the information
space broadens. However, a small 3D virtual content of a password space. It is important to have a
environment usually contains only a few objects, and scheme that has a very large possible password space
thus, performing a 3D password will take less time. which increases the work required by the attacker to break
4) Number of objects and their types Part of designing a the authentication system.
3D virtual environment is determining the types of
objects and how many objects should be placed in the ▪ Find a scheme that has no previous or existing knowledge
of the most probable user password selection.
environment. The types of objects reflect what kind of
responses the object will have. For simplicity, we can
consider requesting a textual password or a fingerprint
as an object response type. Selecting the right object 5.1 Attacks and Countermeasures
response types and the number of objects affects the To realize and understand how far an authentication
probable password space of a 3D password. scheme is secure, we have to consider all possible attack
5) System Importance The 3D virtual environment methods. We have to study whether the authentication
should consider what systems will be protected by a scheme proposed is immune against such attacks or not.
3D password The number of objects and the types of Moreover, if the proposed authentication scheme is not
objects that Have been used in the 3D virtual immune, we then have to find the countermeasures that
environment should reflect the importance of the prevent such attacks. In this section, we try to cover most
protected system. possible attacks and whether the attack is valid or not.
V. 3D PASSWORD APPLICATION Moreover, we try to propose countermeasures for such
attacks.
The 3D password can have a password space that is very
large compared to other authentication schemes, so the 3D 1) Brute Force Attack: The attacker has to try all possible
password’s main application domains are protecting critical 3D passwords. This kind of attack is very difficult for
systems and resources. the following reasons.

1. Critical server many large organizations have critical 1. Time required to login The total time needed for a
servers that are usually protected by a textual password. A legitimate user to login may vary depending on the
3D password authentication proposes a sound replacement number of interactions and actions, the size of the 3D
for a textual password. virtual environment, and the type of actions and
interactions. Therefore, a brute force attack on a 3D
2. Nuclear and military facilities such facilities should be password is very difficult and time consuming
protected by the most powerful authentication systems. The
3D password has a very large probable password space, 2. Cost of attacks the 3D virtual environment contains
and since it can contain token, biometrics, recognition and biometric recognition objects and token based
knowledge based Authentications in a single authentication objects. The attacker has to forge all possible
system, it is a sound choice for high level security biometric information and forge all the required
locations. tokens. The cost of forging such information is very
high, therefore cracking the 3D password is more
3. Airplanes and jet fighters Because of the possible threat challenging. The high number of possible 3D
of misusing airplanes and jet fighters for religion, political password spaces leaves the attacker with almost no
agendas, usage of such airplanes should be protected by a chance of breaking the 3D password.
powerful authentication system In addition, 3D passwords
can be used in less critical systems because the 3D virtual 2) Well-Studied Attack : The attacker tries to find the
environment can be designed to fit to any system needs. A highest probable distribution of 3D passwords. In order to
small virtual environment can be used in the following launch such an attack, the attacker has to acquire
systems like knowledge of the most probable 3D password distributions.
This is very difficult because the attacker has to study all
1) ATM the existing authentication schemes that are used in the 3D
environment. It requires a study of the user’s selection of
2) Personal Digital Assistance
objects for the 3D password. Moreover, a well studied
3) Desktop Computers & laptop logins attack is very hard to accomplish since the attacker has to
perform a customized attack for every different 3D virtual
4) Web Authentication
environment design. This environment has a number of
5) Security Analysis objects and types of object responses that differ from any
other 3D virtual environment. Therefore, a carefully
customized study is required to initialize an effective
attack.

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Special Issue - 2015 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
NCETEMS-2015 Conference Proceedings

2) Shoulder Surfing Attack : An attacker uses a camera to REFERENCES

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performed. This attack is the most successful type of Instrumentations and Measurement.
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gives the attacker mere hints. Therefore, it would
probably be launched as part of a well studied or brute
force attack. Timing attacks can be very effective if the
3D virtual environment is poorly designed.
VI. CONCLUSION
The 3D password is a multi factor authentication scheme
that combines the various authentication schemes into a
single 3D virtual environment. The virtual environment can
contain any existing authentication scheme or even any
upcoming authentication scheme or even any upcoming
authentication schemes by adding it as a response to
actions performed on an object. Therefore the resulting
password space becomes very large compared to any
existing authentication schemes. The design of the 3D
virtual environment the selection of objects inside the
environment and the object's type reflect the resulted
password space. It is the task of the system administrator to
design the environment and to select the appropriate object
that reflects the protected system requirements. Designing
a simple and easy to use 3D virtual environment is a factor
that leads to a higher user acceptability of a 3D password
system. The choice of what authentication scheme will be
part of user's 3D password reflects the user's preferences
and requirements.

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