Motiv ring’s new security features want to do away with passwords
The updated version of Motiv ring’s software introduces new security features that take the wearable beyond fitness tracking.
Essential reading: Smart rings, jewelry meet technology
Lets face it, noone likes passwords. The average person is said to have 19 of them. Having a device on your finger that automatically logs you in makes perfect sense. The sooner we do away with passwords, the better.
Launched in 2017, Motiv is a lightweight ring designed to monitor your heart rate, track activity and sleep. We can now add two-factor authentication (2FA) to its list of talents. This acts as an extra layer of security when logging in to your online accounts as it requires not only a password and username but also something that the user has on them.
Adding this type of functionality to a smart ring makes perfect sense. Because wearers always have the gizmo on, it represents a very convenient way to protect identity and online accounts.
A simple gesture is all it takes to prove you are really you when logging in. This feature is available via a software update for iOS users, and for Android users as an Open Beta. The ring is also offering up something called WalkID (currently in beta), which uses the way a wearer walks to further verify their identity. Apparently your “gait” and the pace at which you normally walk is just as good at identifying you as a fingerprint.
But Motiv wants to go even further and do away with passwords entirely. The company promises users will soon be able to log in to any supporting website on Google Chrome and Windows Edge without typing in their passwords. To this end the ring supports FIDO2 and WebAuthn authentication standards.
In the future the company plans to add other forms of biometric identification. This includes fingerprint and facial recognition which presumably will work through the accompanying smartphone app.
With this added functionality Motiv’s full feature-set is rather impressive. The ring monitors activity, sleep, active heart rate, resting heart rate, calories burned, distance and steps – and it does all this well. The app establishes weekly goals and adjusts daily targets based on user’s activity. With a 3-5 day battery life and water resistance, the gadget dishes up quite a lot.
“Motiv Ring owners are wearing their rings to help achieve their health goals. Ultimately, we want to better equip our users to support both their physical and digital lives, 24/7,” said Tejash Unadkat, CEO of Motiv.
“With so many devices, passwords, and accounts, practicing good online security is complicated. Since Motiv is already on your finger, worn throughout your day, that same hardware can become an easy, uncomplicated stepping stone to a more secure digital identity.”
Motiv’s smart ring can be purchased on Amazon. As of today, it will be available in a few new finishes including rose gold, silver and black.
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