How do biometrics work?
The use of bodily attributes to confirm a user’s identity for identification and authorization is known as biometric authentication. Different bodily traits are gathered and stored by biometric authentication systems in templates that may be used to confirm people.
Physical traits are, for the most part, far harder to forge than passwords or PINs, making biometrics an increasingly popular and trustworthy type of verification. Additionally, that has been much simpler because of the widespread adoption of biometric scanners on popular consumer electronics (smartphones, tablets, and workstations).
Biometrics are becoming a crucial component of contemporary cybersecurity due to their simple implementation, rapid uptake, and better security. Additionally, this increasing attention to biometrics has led to ongoing innovation in a number of other biometrics-related fields. Many new scanner models, new software, and numerous biometrics have been endorsed by new AI, including the following:
Because each fingerprint is distinct, fingerprint scanners are frequently found on workstations and mobile devices. Similar to how contemporary PCs and laptops frequently use fingerprints as a fundamental identification verification method in the absence of other biometrics.
Iris Signature
The characteristics of the human iris are thought to be at least as distinctive as fingerprints. The iris may be scanned by modern cameras on mobile devices to confirm identification.
Facial Recognition
Similar to iris scans, facial recognition scans use cameras on smartphones or computers to compare a person’s face (including their nose, eyes, ears, and lips) to a database of biometric fingerprints. This process is used to verify a person’s identification. If not for anything else, face and iris scans are generally more secure than fingerprints in terms of security. A face is far more difficult to spoof (at least in principle; see our discussion of the difficulties with biometrics later in this article).
Voice Recognition
Due to the simplicity with which a hacker may impersonate a voice using a voice modulator, voice recognition has frequently been overlooked. But thanks to modern AI, speech recognition is now a feasible biometric identification method for a few key critical devices.
Handwriting recognition
It is a crucial component of behavioural biometrics, especially with the integration of document verification systems into security and privacy. Even though skilled forgers can frequently imitate handwriting, comparing handwriting on file with official papers is a workable security technique in human-managed document verification.
Vascular Recognition
A few cutting-edge sensors are able to record and, using IR light, locate vein patterns from various body areas. This type of biometric is similar to iris scans in that they both include a vein pattern search in their operational procedures.
What will the future of biometrics look like?
While improved biometric techniques and new types of fraud prevention are filling the gaps for systems that need greater standards of security and dependability, biometric authentication methods are becoming increasingly widespread across consumer and corporate platforms.
Future developments in biometric authentication might involve some of the following:
Physical Identity Verification: New methods of real-time biometric identity verification using on-premises cameras will be fueled by the rise of AI-driven biometrics, notably face and behavioural biometrics (gait, voice, and accent recognition).
Authentication Using Advanced Biometrics: Although there are trustworthy types of biometrics,New technologies are concentrating on extracting ever more sophisticated biometric markers from the body, each giving a different difficult-to-fake marker to use for safe authentication, in addition to biometric passwords, which are now available. These may involve reading DNA signatures, odour recognition, pulse pattern recognition, hand geometry, etc.
Identity Verification: The presumption that the user must be physically present to submit biometric data is one of the advantages of biometric authentication. To combat new types of identity theft, even more effective solutions, such as live identity verification or AI-driven video identity verification, layer extra “liveness” testing into the procedures.
Continuous authentication: Depending on the user’s access to various resources, authentication may take place repeatedly or only once at login. In order to provide ongoing user verification over time, continuous authentication leverages behavioural patterns or other indicators to sustain authentication.These developments aren’t developing independently; for instance, continuous authentication innovation is being driven by sophisticated biometrics, while enhanced physical identity verification is being driven by identity proofing in fields like high-security compliance requirements.
What Problems Does Contemporary Biometrics Face?
Although the future of biometric authentication appears promising, there are still certain obstacles to overcome. Modern security techniques will continually present new risks, issues, and concepts to test new systems.
The following are some examples of frequent dangers that we observe developing:
Physical spoofing
Using artificial means to trick these systems is one of the most difficult problems with image-based biometrics (facial scans, etc.). For instance, a hacker could try to trick the authentication system by using the user’s picture instead of the real person. However, physical faking of biometrics like faces, fingerprints, and even iris patterns has been demonstrated in controlled settings to defeat even high-level biometric authentication systems. While AI is significantly helping to mitigate these difficulties.
Deepfakes
Deepfakes are an attack vector supported by contemporary AI. A deepfake is a fabricated video that has been altered to appear startlingly authentic, especially to the human eye. Deepfake movies use sophisticated video editing methods and voice spoofing to produce videos that almost seem authentic and feature a famous person saying something surprising or unlawful. These profound fakes have a clear societal impact. However, given the technical impact on security, this is also a major issue. Deep-fake movies may be used to evade identity verification and liveness checks, as well as face recognition software.
Civil and Legal Accountability
Depending on the data they collect, modern biometrics may pose a serious ethical problem. For instance, a user could feel uneasy using a system that continuously records their facial traits or typing habits for continuous authentication. At the international, national, and municipal levels, new laws are being developed to address these problems. Similar to the European Union, certain countries are moving swiftly to enact rules that are centred on protecting consumers from illegitimate and immoral data-gathering practices.
Conclusion
The use of biometrics as an authentication element can be practical and simple. However, not every strategy is appropriate for every setting. Understanding the environment in which a solution will function and the daily state of the physical features scanned can help you prevent problems like fingers smeared in oil or other contaminants. There may be a need for many solutions, each tailored to the operational environment and the risk involved with the resources being accessed.
The largest difficulty you’ll have is user resistance due to privacy concerns. Management must comprehend the effort and support it at all levels. Users must get training, comprehend the reasons a new work practice is being introduced, and be aware of the precautions being taken to protect their privacy.
