Outlier detection for keystroke biometric user authentication

User authentication is a fundamental aspect of information security, requiring robust measures against identity fraud and data breaches. In the domain of keystroke dynamics research, a significant challenge lies in the reliance on imposter datasets, particularly evident in real-world scenarios where obtaining authentic imposter data is exceedingly difficult. This article presents a novel approach to keystroke dynamics-based authentication, utilizing unsupervised outlier detection techniques, notably exemplified by the histogram-based outlier score (HBOS), eliminating the necessity for imposter samples. A comprehensive evaluation, comparing HBOS with 15 alternative outlier detection methods, highlights its superior performance. This departure from traditional dependence on imposter datasets signifies a substantial advancement in keystroke dynamics research. Key innovations include the introduction of an alternative outlier detection paradigm with HBOS, increased practical applicability by reducing reliance on extensive imposter data, resolution of real-world challenges in simulating fraudulent keystrokes, and addressing critical gaps in existing authentication methodologies. Rigorous testing on Carnegie Mellon University's (CMU) keystroke biometrics dataset validates the effectiveness of the proposed approach, yielding an impressive equal error rate (EER) of 5.97%, a notable area under the ROC curve of 97.79%, and a robust accuracy (ACC) of 89.23%. This article represents a significant advancement in keystroke dynamics-based authentication, offering a reliable and efficient solution characterized by substantial improvements in accuracy and practical applicability. © 2024 G. Ismail et al.