<p>One important issue faced by companies is to secure their information and resources from intrusions. For accessing a resource almost every system uses the approach of assigning a unique username and a password to all legitimate users. This approach has a major drawback. If an intruder gets the above information then he can become a big threat for the company and its resources. To strengthen the computer security there are several biometric methods for identity verification which are based on the human body’s unique characteristics and behavior including fingerprints, face recognition, retina scan and signatures. However most of these techniques are expensive and requires the installation of additional hardware. </p><p>This thesis focuses on keystroke dynamics as an identity verifier, which are based on the user’s unique habitual typing rhythm. This technique is not just looking for <i>what</i> the user types but also <i>how</i> he types. This method does not require additional hardware to be installed and are therefore rather inexpensive to implement. This thesis will discuss how identity verification through keystroke characteristics can be made, what have been done in this area and give advantages and disadvantages of the technique.</p>

One important issue faced by companies is to secure their information and resources from intrusions. For accessing a resource almost every system uses the approach of assigning a unique username and a password to all legitimate users. This approach has a major drawback. If an intruder gets the above information then he can become a big threat for the company and its resources. To strengthen the computer security there are several biometric methods for identity verification which are based on the human body’s unique characteristics and behavior including fingerprints, face recognition, retina scan and signatures. However most of these techniques are expensive and requires the installation of additional hardware. This thesis focuses on keystroke dynamics as an identity verifier, which are based on the user’s unique habitual typing rhythm. This technique is not just looking for what the user types but also how he types. This method does not require additional hardware to be installed and are therefore rather inexpensive to implement. This thesis will discuss how identity verification through keystroke characteristics can be made, what have been done in this area and give advantages and disadvantages of the technique.