What is BioMetrics?

• Biometrics is the study of automated methods for uniquely recognizing humans based upon one or more intrinsic physical or behavioural traits.
• Biometric authentication refers to technologies that measure and analyze human physical and behavioral characteristics for authentication purposes.
• Examples of physical characteristics include fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, facial patterns and hand measurements, while examples of mostly behavioural characteristics include signature, gait and typing patterns.
• Voice is considered a mix of both physical and behavioral characteristics

Identity Theft

• Concerns about Identity theft through biometrics use have not been resolved. If a person's credit card number is stolen, for example, it can cause them great difficulty since this information can be used in situations where the security system requires only a single-factor authentication.
• Recently the television program Mythbusters attempted to break into a commercial security door equipped with biometric authentication as well as a personal laptop so equipped. The results were shocking as they were able to easily defeat the technology with not one, but all of the different techniques they used. The most eye-opening was their quick success with a simple photocopy of a fingerprint. That the technology was so easily undermined strongly suggests that biometrics, in its present form, cannot yet be considered a strong form of authentication.
• Identity Theft is a major concern with biometrics. This kind of theft needs to be STOPPED!