International Business Machines Corporation
Enhancing security of a touch screen device

Abstract:

A touch screen device includes a security enforcer that monitors the environment of the touch screen device and sets an appropriate security level for the touch screen device based on the monitored environment. The monitored conditions may include users and devices in physical proximity to the touch screen device. When the touch screen device is in physical proximity to users and/or devices the touch screen device does not recognize, the touch screen device elevates its security level. The touch screen device may include a system and application profiles that defines characteristics for enhancing the security of the touch screen device by changing locations of one or more selectable objects for authentication and by changing location of one or more selectable objects for applications based on one or more defined thresholds, or for making an icon unselectable or hidden based on an elevated security level of the touch screen device.