To those still using pattern unlocking feature on their Android mobile phones, here’s a mobile security update to rejoice. A new research has confirmed that multiple patterns of unlocking on android phones offer greater security than the single pattern method that is being used now. And the study further suggests that it can be secure than the 4 digit or 6 digit PIN unlock normally used on Apple Inc devices.
Technically, pattern unlocking came into existence on Android phones since 2008 and is still being used on Android OS platforms released before Android 7 or older versions.
So, a latest research carried out on pattern unlocking suggested an improvement by expanding the 3×3 pattern grid to a 4×4 grid.
Security researcher Adam J Aviv, a computer science professor from Georgia Washington University suggested a double pattern where the Android phone user should use two concurrent unlock patterns entered one after another only to be super-imposed on the same 3×3 grid.
Adam suggests that users could recall the double pattern security more easily than the single pattern entry, and participants perceived the usability as a more positive authentication method.
Note-In recent times, the mobile security feature has evolved vastly, all thanks to Google and its developers. While fingerprint scanning was touted to be more effective than PIN entry, things have changed vastly in recent times, as smart phone users now perceive facial recognition as the most secure authentication.
