Israeli Bank to Introduce Passive Mobile Behavioral Authentication

“The system continuously monitors behavioral metrics including a user’s finger size and the pressure of the user’s touch to enable passive authentication…”

An Israel-based bank has become the first in the world to embrace behavioral biometrics as a password replacement on mobile devices.

Leumi Card, a credit card subsidiary of Bank Leumi, has been trialing the technology, which was developed by Israel-based startup SecuredTouch. The system continuously monitors behavioral metrics including a user’s finger size and the pressure of the user’s touch to enable passive authentication, and the companies say the system is robust enough that it can fully replace password-based security.

It’s a mobile security concept in which major companies like Google have shown strong interest. In a statement announcing the functionality, Leumi Card EVP Ohad Maimon called it “an international breakthrough” that could dramatically improve mobile conversion by eliminating the need for password security.

Leumi Card says it will introduce the feature to its mobile app “in the coming months,” while SecuredTouch is now “in advanced engagements” to bring the technology to other financial institutions.

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November 21, 2016 – by Alex Perala