ARCHIVES
Neutralizing RAT-Assisted Passkey Hijacking via the Visual Password System (VPS)
Published Online: January-April 2026
Pages: 180-182
Cite this article
↗ https://www.doi.org/10.59256/indjcst.20260501025Abstract
As the cyber security industry transitions to Passkeys (FIDO2/WebAuthn), a critical vulnerability has emerged in cloud-synced recovery flows. Current implementations rely on a static Device PIN for synchronization. Our research identifies the "Sync-Infiltrator" exploit, where an attacker uses a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) to capture this PIN, allowing them to bypass hardware-binding and clone a victim's identity onto an attacker-controlled device.The proposed Visual Password System (VPS) is a dynamic authentication protocol that shifts the "Root of Trust" to the user’s cognitive space. By utilizing a high-entropy pool of say 54 unique graphical assets, a private mental margin, and hidden "Locker Key" positions, the user ensures that no reusable data is ever typed or displayed. The system effectively neutralizes Phishing and RATs through Proactive Credential Rotation and Visual Masking. This paper introduces the Visual Password System (VPS), a cognitive authentication protocol designed to eliminate reusable secrets and resist RAT-based credential harvesting.
Related Articles
2026
Artificial Intelligence in Learning and Teaching
2026
Admin Assist: An AI – Driven Configuration and Orchestration for Enterprise Application
2026
Enhancing Blood Group Identification using pigeon inspired optimization: An Innovative Approach
2026
Eco-Genius: Power Up Smart, Power Down Waste
2026
Crowd-Sourced Disaster Response and Rescue Assistant
2026