Results are accurate on video recorded on a mobile phone from up to two and a half meters away – and so attacks are more covert than shoulder-surfing. The attack works even without the video footage being able to see any of the on-screen content, and regardless of the size of the screen. Within seconds the algorithm produces a small number of candidate patterns to access the Android phone or tablet. From the article:īy covertly videoing the owner drawing their Pattern Lock shape to unlock their device, while enjoying a coffee in a busy café, for example, the attacker, who is pretending to play with their phone, can then use software to quickly track the owner’s fingertip movements relative to the position of the device. That’s according to new research from Lancaster University, Northwest University in China, and the University of Bath.Īccording to an article at, researchers found that attackers can crack Pattern Lock within five attempts by using video and computer vision algorithm software.

Warning to Android owners who use the Pattern Lock system: your device can still be compromised.

Android unlock pattern software