The Debate Over Biometrics

What is biometrics?

It is a technology that uses the unique human characteristics of a person as a means of authentication.

What are the different types? (SOURCE: PC WORLD)

1. Fingerprint Scan
   
2. Hand Measurements
   
3. Retinal Scan
   
4. Iris Scan
   
5. Facial Scan
   
6. Voice Recognition
   

Advantages of biometrics? (SOURCE: Quest Biometrics)

• Increase security - Provide a convenient and low-cost additional tier of security.
  
• Reduce fraud by employing hard-to-forge technologies and materials. For e.g., minimize the opportunity for ID fraud, buddy punching.
  
• Eliminate problems caused by lost IDs or forgotten passwords by using physiological attributes. For e.g., prevent unauthorized use of lost, stolen or "borrowed" ID cards.
  
• Reduce password administration costs.
  
• Replace hard-to-remember passwords which may be shared or observed.
  
• Make it possible, automatically, to know WHO did WHAT, WHERE and WHEN!
  
  • Unequivocally link an individual to a transaction or event.
    

Disadvantages of Biometrics? (SOURCE: PC MAG)

• Biometrics is still expensive
  
• It can often produce false positives or block out those with clearance
  
• It doesn't account for the changes in people from day to day or over time.
  

What type of biometrics is the most accurate? (SOURCE: International Biometric Group)

Iris and retinal scans. The eye changes very little with age. The only problem is that for people affected with diabetes, the eyes get affected resulting in differences.

Least accurate?

Face and voice recognition are the least accurate for basically the same reason. They are both affected by day to day and gradual changes caused by age, sickness and fatigue.

What concerns do privacy advocates have about airports using biometric facial scanners to attempt to identify known terrorists? How accurate have these tests been? (SOURCE: Federal Computer Week)

The US Government has been using biometric face scanners in airports against a database of known terrorists. It is said that this method is 80-90% accurate, but only when scanning individuals (accuracy drop significantly when scanning a crowd of people). Privacy advocates say "NO!" to this use of biometrics, because facial scanning is the only commonly used biometric that does not require the subject's cooperation.