GreatHorn Adds Typing Biometrics to Email Security Platform

GreatHorn has introduced biometric authentication to its Email Security Platform. The Account Takeover Protection feature specifically leverages typing biometrics, and was built to identify and secure compromised email accounts.

To that end, Account Takeover Protection analyzes typing patterns to create a unique profile for each individual user, based on factors like typing speed and pressure on keyboards and mobile devices (the platform does not log specific keystrokes). After that, the platform will watch for any anomalous behavior that could suggest that an account has been compromised.

Organizations can then configure the program to carry out the desired response if suspicious activity is detected. Account Takeover Protection can notify the security team or send a warning to the intended recipient, or even prevent an email from being sent. Doing so will protect the reputation of an organization if an outsider manages to get around traditional login credentials and tries to use the compromised account for nefarious purposes.

“Most email solutions rely on binary or perimeter-based analysis to prevent email attacks, but these methods fail to identify when a legitimate account has been compromised,” said GreatHorn Co-Founder and CEO Kevin O’Brien. “Because the action of typing is a part of a user’s everyday workflow, it allows for periodic validation with minimal disruption.”

Account Takeover Protection is an extension of the GreatHorn Reporter plug-in. Any interactions that do get flagged will be listed in the GreatHorn dashboard.

Of course, GreatHorn is not the only company trying to promote the security benefits of typing biometrics. TypingDNA recently secured $7 million in Series A funding, and expanded the utility of its own typing biometric solution to cover mobile devices. The European Banking Authority has also approved typing dynamics as an inherent authentication factor, thereby allowing European financial organizations to employ the technology in PSD2 security solutions.    

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February 24, 2020 – by Eric Weiss