Biometric systems offer many advantages, yet can pose unique challenges. People need to present themselves in specific ways for biometric recognition – pressing fingertips against scanners for finger prints, sitting still for face recognition or showing eyes to cameras (Van der Ploeg 2011).
Morphological markers include fingerprints, palm vein patterns on hands, the iris or retina and facial structures as identifiers.
Fingerprints
Fingerprint recognition technology provides an efficient means of verifying an individual’s identity. Using digital maps created from user fingerprints or facial features, fingerprint recognition provides access or denies access to workplace systems. While providing strong fraud protection and raising privacy issues simultaneously, such technology also raises privacy issues; for example, fingerprint data could potentially be collected covertly and linked back to other records; additionally it’s possible that stolen digital fingerprint maps could gain entry to other systems.
Organizations can reduce risks by adhering to strict security protocols. They should use encryption technology for biometric data at rest and transit; limit storage of biometric information only as required for authentication; conduct regular audits/monitoring of biometric systems to detect any unusual activity or potential security breaches; this will help them stay within data protection laws.
Facial recognition
Facial recognition software uses cameras to detect a person’s face in real-time and compare it with an image stored elsewhere, often used for unlocking mobile devices or replacing passwords as well as accessing secure areas containing pharmaceuticals or sensitive equipment. It’s becoming an increasingly popular way of accessing mobile devices or accessing secure areas.
Airports have begun using this technology to reduce boarding times, with passengers using smartphones to complete a quick selfie enrolment as they approach their departure gate and complete an easy selfie enrolment – this has proven to reduce boarding times by an average of two seconds!
One drawback of facial recognition and other biometric modalities is their susceptibility to manipulation or fraud; therefore, organizations considering using them must ensure privacy solutions are included from the outset. Furthermore, clear complaints procedures and enquiry processes must also be implemented and internal and external avenues for redress should be communicated clearly to end users.
Behavioral biometrics
Behavioral biometrics provide an efficient means for customer authentication, adding another level of protection without altering user habits. These technologies observe how people use their computers or mobile devices such as typing patterns, mouse movements, scrolling patterns and the way people hold or swipe the screens; all this data provides a detailed profile that can help detect fraudsters or any attempted account takeover attempts.
Physical biometrics such as fingerprints and retinal scans rely on static characteristics that cannot change, while behavioral biometrics use individual actions that distinguish one person from the next with impressive accuracy. This allows behavioral biometrics to detect anomalies or fraud in real-time even if an attacker possesses an excellent password or PIN; alert customers, initiate additional verification steps before allowing access into their accounts, or suspend or freeze their accounts when high risk activity is identified.
Behavioral recognition
Biometric recognition offers a touchless experience that reduces germ transmission – especially beneficial to users concerned with hygiene. Furthermore, eliminating password entry means less frustration and wasted time for both you and your staff.
Biometric authentication poses potential privacy concerns similar to other forms of authentication; its data cannot easily be changed or transferred between people, nor easily compared against databases as with passwords. A system may produce false matches due to factors like poor reference information used during enrollment, lighting conditions, posture issues or health conditions which prevent identification.
Privacy principles should be carefully considered by organizations before deploying any biometric solution. Furthermore, companies using biometrics must set up transparent complaints and enquiry systems with clearly outlined avenues of recourse if any problems arise; this will build trust within their system and prevent hackers from accessing biometric information that has not been protected properly.