QID Authentication System

QID is an open source authentication software that uses random questions about user activities to verify identity.

Many systems use passwords for authentication. This project aims to improve accuracy and usability by generating random authentication questions from a set of user information. Usability is improved by relieving users of the tedious and often frustrating responsibility for selecting and saving multiple passwords. Accuracy is improved by using a variety of questions from user information as the basis of authentication instead of predictable password matching. Fraudulent access detection is performed using a novel application of the Independent Component Analysis technique (more details).

The research is focused on using QID for Internet and mobile applications in academic organisations. The software is free and available for personal or commercial use through the BSD license. The project is funded by the Eduserv Foundation.