Luminous Security: Deploying Smart Bulbs for Usable Multi-Factor Authentication

While Two-factor Authentication (2FA) has significantly improved authentication security, it is now facing an increasing range of sophisticated attacks. To address this challenge, we propose augmenting 2FA with unique environmental signatures found in the user's local surroundings. Since most attackers operate remotely, these environmental factors can serve as an effective barrier against unauthorized access. Our approach leverages custom lighting through smart bulb technology, which is becoming increasingly common in households, to generate dynamic color patterns as an additional, non-interactive authentication factor. We developed a prototype where these color patterns are detected and analyzed for authentication. Our evaluation examines both the system's effectiveness and usability in everyday settings. Results demonstrate that this method significantly enhances security while maintaining user convenience, presenting a promising solution for the next generation of multi-factor authentication frameworks. This work highlights the potential of integrating smart home technology to create secure and user-fr-ienrllv authentication practices.