(Phys.org) —The smartphone’s paths to security vulnerability continue to capture the attention of security researchers. Currently, the focus is turning to the rise in sensors being designed into smartphones, and their potential role in breach of privacy. Researchers want to learn more about how data-producing sensors may raise security risks, and a recent finding turns its focus on accelerometers. A team at Stanford discovers that an accelerometer can help identify the smartphone in seconds. According to a detailed account of the research in SFGate, the discovery involves a Stanford University research team who last year set out to test if devices could be identified via various smartphone sensors. Hristo Bojinov, a PhD candidate in computer science and part of the group, said the intent was to raise awareness among device makers, designers and policy professionals how sensors might be an avenue for tracking. They did find flaws in phone sensors which, potentially, advertisers could exploit.
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