Password system lets you in if it likes your style

A new security system monitors how you type a password to prevent intruders accessing your user accounts.

The Biopassword system measures how long a user holds down different keys and the time between keystrokes to help authenticate them.

An ID profile is built up by monitoring several password entries, providing a spread of timings to avoid false negatives, such as might be entered when a user returns from a liquid lunch.

Jared Pfost, Biopassword's vice-president of product management, said the system has been used in academic circles for years.

"We are the first to evolve it to accuracy and portability. There is a new need for portable authentication," he said.

Hardware and software keyloggers, used by criminals to capture passwords, currently only collect the letters used, not how they are pressed. Pfost agreed that it would be possible for them to record timing too to fool the biopass system.

But he does not think that will happen for some time: "It is not an issue today. Over time we anticipate that any authentication solution will be broken. We will enter an arms race and we will be one step ahead of them. We look forward to the challenge."

The Biopassword system costs $50 (£25) per user, with discounts for orders of more than 50. You can try the system out at the company's website.