Abstract: A method for estimating the strength of a graphical password comprising two or more segments is disclosed. In some embodiments, this advantageous solution is achieved by implementing a multi-step process. In one step, the data processing system applies a first operation on a first segment to produce a transformed segment. In another step, the data processing system performs a comparison operation between the transformed segment and a second segment. In another step, the data processing system performs a penalty operation with respect to the first segment based on an outcome of the comparison operation. The penalty operation includes one or more of (1) calculating a penalty value, wherein the penalty value may be used in calculating a value representing the strength of the graphical password; and (2) disregarding the first or the second segment when calculating the value representing the strength of the graphical password.

Abstract: A method for estimating the strength of a graphicalpassword comprising two or more segments is disclosed. In some embodiments, this advantageous solution is achieved by implementing a multi-step process. In one step, the data processing system applies a first operation on a first segment to produce a transformed segment. In another step, the data processing system performs a comparison operation between the transformed segment and a second segment. In another step, the data processing system performs a penalty operation with respect to the first segment based on an outcome of the comparison operation. The penalty operation includes one or more of (1) calculating a penalty value, wherein the penalty value may be used in calculating a value representing the strength of the graphicalpassword; and (2) disregarding the first or the second segment when calculating the value representing the strength of the graphical password.