BioPassword

About BioPassword

BioPassword, Inc. operated as a software-based security firm specializing in strong, multi-factor authentication for enterprise clients. The company was located in Issaquah, Washington, and positioned itself as a provider of high-security solutions that were low-cost and required no change in user behavior. The underlying technology was originally developed at SRI International between 1979 and 1985 as a computer-based security access and identification procedure.

The firm's core business revolved around its patented keystroke dynamics technology, a behavioral biometric method. This technology authenticates users by analyzing their unique typing rhythm when they enter their credentials. The software measures millisecond timings between keystrokes and the duration a key is pressed, creating a distinct biometric signature for each individual. This signature acts as a second, invisible layer of security, bound to the user's standard login credentials. The business model was based on a per-user subscription fee; for instance, the BioPassword Enterprise Edition 4.0 was priced at $19 per user for a one-year subscription in 2007.

BioPassword's product suite was designed as a software-only solution, eliminating the need for physical hardware tokens or specialized biometric readers. The platform integrated with existing network environments, such as Windows NT and Active Directory, storing the user's biometric template for comparison during login attempts. In addition to keystroke biometrics, the Enterprise Edition 4.0 platform incorporated other authentication factors, including knowledge-based questions and one-time passwords delivered to a mobile device. This multi-faceted approach aimed to provide robust security against both internal and external threats, securing remote access for an increasingly mobile workforce through integrations with partners like Juniper Networks.