Logging into Desktop with Arduino

MacManus

You want to Login to your Desktop with your NFC Ring?
You have an Arduino Leonardo, an NFC Ring and an Elechouse PN532 reader (v3 recommended)?

Great, lets build a Log-In Station for your Laptop.
It works with nearly every password field (Debian Linux Login, Windows 8.1 Login, Keepass tested and worked - BIOS password doesn't work).

Connect the Elechouse reader to the Arduino Leonardo (see below) and connect the Arduino via USB to your computer.

PN532 Module <-> Arduino

GND <-> GND
VCC <-> 3v3
SDA <-> SDA (on Arduino Leonardo D2)
SCL <-> SCL (on Arduino Leonardo D3)

So here's the code:

#include <EEPROM.h>

/**************************************************************************/
/*!
Autor: Pascal König
Website: http://blog.koenig-pascal.de

Elechouse NFC Module v2.0
Library: https://github.com/elechouse/PN532
NFC Code Template: https://github.com/JohnMcLear/NFC_Ring_Arduino_Door_Lock/blob/master/NFC_Door_Lock.ino

*/
/**************************************************************************/


#include <Wire.h>
#include <PN532_I2C.h>
#include <PN532.h>

PN532_I2C pn532i2c(Wire);
PN532 nfc(pn532i2c);


void setup(void) {
  Keyboard.begin();
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.println("Hello!");

  nfc.begin();

  uint32_t versiondata = nfc.getFirmwareVersion();
  if (! versiondata) {
    Serial.print(versiondata);
    Serial.print("Didn't find PN53x board");
    while (1); // halt
  }
  
  // Got ok data, print it out!
  Serial.print("Found chip PN5"); Serial.println((versiondata>>24) & 0xFF, HEX);
  Serial.print("Firmware ver. "); Serial.print((versiondata>>16) & 0xFF, DEC);
  Serial.print('.'); Serial.println((versiondata>>8) & 0xFF, DEC);
  
  // Set the max number of retry attempts to read from a card
  // This prevents us from waiting forever for a card, which is
  // the default behaviour of the PN532.
  nfc.setPassiveActivationRetries(0xFF);
  
  // configure board to read RFID tags
  nfc.SAMConfig();
    
  Serial.println("Waiting for an ISO14443A card");
}

void loop(void) {
  String ringUid;
  boolean success;
  uint8_t uid[] = { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }; // Buffer to store the returned UID
  uint8_t uidLength; // Length of the UID (4 or 7 bytes depending on ISO14443A card type)
  
  // Wait for an ISO14443A type cards (Mifare, etc.). When one is found
  // 'uid' will be populated with the UID, and uidLength will indicate
  // if the uid is 4 bytes (Mifare Classic) or 7 bytes (Mifare Ultralight)
  success = nfc.readPassiveTargetID(PN532_MIFARE_ISO14443A, &uid[0], &uidLength);
  
  if (success) {
    // Display some basic information about the card
    // Serial.println("Found an ISO14443A card");
    // Serial.print(" UID Length: "); Serial.print(uidLength, DEC); Serial.println(" bytes");
    Serial.print(" UID Value: ");
    for (uint8_t i = 0; i < uidLength; i++)
    {
      //Serial.print("..");
      //Serial.print(uid[i], HEX);
      ringUid += String(uid[i], HEX);

    }
    //Serial.println(ringUid + "\n");
    Serial.println(ringUid);
    if(ringUid == "publicRingUID"){
      Serial.println("public");
    }
    else if (ringUid == "privateRingUID"){
      Serial.println("private");
      Keyboard.println("password");
      delay(5000);
    }
  }
}

Change your password at the end of the code (in the private Ring Area).

And here's a video

If you have questions: Feel free to ask.

Lokki

Nice one mate, that's cool. I was all hot to go with some spares I just happened to have but I think I'm going to have to reinstall the arduino IDE as it wont compile for me.

Nairod785

Great job man!
You were faster than me!
I'll try to build my own version later (because I need to reorder some arduino and stuff to my new adress).
I'd be happy to see the hardware, some pics you know.

Lokki

@Nairod785 note that you can only use keyboard commands with the leonardo, with uno, mega etc you have to do some sneaky re-flashing of the usb interface chip in order to emulate a keyboard. If you're ordering a new arduino it might be easier with a Leonardo.

MacManus

@Lokki what are your error messages in the arduino ide?
@Nairod785 here are some pictures:

Nairod785

I know, the one I want to use, had the same ATMega 32U4, so it has the same abilities as a Leonardo. But smaller ;)

Lokki

@MacManus, it's all sorted. Reinstalled the libraries again and it's happily compiling. Works well, nicely done.
@Nairod785, awesome. Sounds like I should try one of those, they're tiny.

Lokki

As a suggestion for your code, it would be interesting if you could add a 'program' button for ring UIDs (enabled with pre-authorised master ring) and switch the code around a bit to grab the password from the ring?

MacManus

Yeah - interesting idea - i will tinker with the code in my next spare time to improve the code.

Lokki

Sounds cool. That way you could link 'allow authorisation' to UID and have the password grabbed from the ring so it's two part authentication. If you're really keen you could encrypt the stored password and have the arduino decrypt it.

johnyma22

Hehe this is cool, I actually wrote a bit about the security issues of doing this back in January after prototyping something similar myself.

Like @Lokki and others have said if you can resolve the security / implementation issues then you will be onto a huge winner with this! :)

Lafunamor

Works fine for me. Thanks a lot!
I have a little question though
should the power (VCC pin) be connected to 3.3V or to 5V?
as you wrote

VCC <-> 3v3

but in the manual it says on page 5 for the Leonardo board you should connect it to 5V. As I'm new to those things I don't want to connect anything wrong and burn my board right after receiving it ;-)

Thanks for the help

MacManus

it works both.
Connect it to 5v if it says in the manual.

Lafunamor

OK, Thanks!