Continuous User Authentication Using Soft Biometric Traits for E-Learning

E-learning institutions are currently facing two key challenges related to identity management. The traditional static authentication at login time whether it is based on a simple password scheme or a strong password is inadequate for two reasons. Firstly, in the current e-learning environments, a student can easily perform the initial authentication (in case of strong authentication such as biometric) or share their password with an expert, and have that expert take an online exam on their behalf without being caught, which is a serious threat to the integrity of the degrees offered by e-learning institutions. Secondly, students can share their accounts with other fellows, who will be able to take online lectures without ever registering, which represent loss in tuition fees for e-learning institutions. To prevent students from e-cheating soft biometric traits are used for continuous user authentication.