Peterborough duo launch crowdfunding bid to test new anti-hacking software
Jonathan Craymer and Jon Beal, who run Cloud-pin, of the Eco-Innovation Centre, in City Road, have developed a complex matrix called Shayype.
They claim it will replace passwords for online uses from emails to banking and shopping.
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Hide AdShayype has been 12 years in the making and has already secured backing from a number of organisations in Peterborough that are keen to test the application.
Cloud-pin’s chairman, Mr Craymer, said: “We hope to raise £40,000 to properly test Shayype.
“It will pay for a programmer for a year and allow us to begin security testing of our systems.”
The crowdfunding will be done through LEOcrowd, of London, a reward-based crowdfunding platform.
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Mr Craymer said: “Passwords are a huge problem, which should have been fixed years ago.
“Now we’re hoping our two-man start-up has done something the tech giants have failed to do - coming up with a simple replacement for passwords.”
Shayype is a grid of constantly changing numbers. The user imagines a pattern on the matrix and types in the numbers within the shape in a separate box to secure the pattern.
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Two years ago, the development of Shayype was given a boost by a grant from the UK government’s smart cities demonstrator programme, administered by Opportunity Peterborough (OP).
Steve Bowyer, OP chief executive, said: “With a world that’s moving ever more towards digital connectivity and sharing information and intelligence, it’s vital that appropriate cyber security measures are in place.
“These trials will show whether a Peterborough company can play its part in discovering that solution.”
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Hide AdOne of the companies that have agreed to test the system is Buglife, of Ham Lane, Peterborough.
Paul Hetherington, Buglife’s director of fundraising and communications, said: “The new Shayype product presents a safe, secure but easy to remember solution for logging in - an opportunity we are excited to share with our supporters.”
For details about Shayype’s crowdfunding campaign visit: www.leocrowd.com/projects/730/Shayype:-Redesigning-Passwords