SnapAuth: A Gesture-Based Unobtrusive Smartwatch User Authentication Scheme

In this paper, we present a novel motion-based behavioral biometric-based user authentication solution - SnapAuth, for Android-based smartwatch. SnapAuth requires the user to perform finger-snapping (Snapping (or clicking) one’s fingers is the act of creating a snapping or clicking sound with one’s fingers. Primarily this is done by building tension between the thumb and another (middle, index, or ring) finger and then moving the other finger forcefully downward so it hits the palm of the same hand at a high speed [4].) action, while wearing the smartwatch 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 Motorola Moto 3G smartwatch. SnapAuth could be widely accepted by users as it utilizes the users’ familiarity with the very common finger-snapping action and users do not need to remember any secret.