A team of engineers says it can stop information on laptops from falling into the wrong hands.
The Zero-Interaction Authentication system, which has been developed at the University of Michigan, automatically encrypts information when owners stray from their machines.
Most systems require users to actively encrypt or decrypt their documents. With the new system, the user wears a device which remains in wireless contact with the laptop. When the wearer moves away, the connection is broken and all data is encrypted.
Up to 32Mb of cached decrypted data can be re-encrypted within five seconds and restored in about six seconds after the user returns.
Inventor Brian Noble said the technology could be embedded in a wristwatch because it was less likely to be mislaid.
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