What are Biometrics?
Biometrics is the measurement of biological or behavioural characteristics that are used to identify persons. The majority of these characteristics are inherited and cannot be predicted or stolen.
What is Biometric System?
A biometric system is a system that uses a person’s physiological, behavioural, or both qualities as input, analyses it, and determines if the individual is a genuine or fraudulent user.
What are Biometrics Characteristics?
The expanding innovative advance permits the quick estimation of natural characteristics that quite recognizes a human being. The unwavering quality of the biometric comes about is based on four essential characteristics:
1. Uniqueness (measured esteem must be distinctive for all people)
2. Consistency (measured esteem does not depend on age or time of measurement)
3. Measurability (well-defined measured factors and reasonable sensors must exist)
4. Universality (as numerous individuals as conceivable have this characteristic)
In addition to the much-respected confirmation strategies utilizing DNA, fingerprints and facial designs, there are other assorted innovations such as the retina and the iris of the eye, the vocal pattern or hands pattern
What are the Types of Biometrics?
Whereas biometrics have additional uses, they are most commonly used in security, and they may be classified into three types:
- Biological biometrics
- Morphological biometrics
- Behavioral biometrics
Biological biometrics make use of genetic and molecular traits. These may include characteristics such as DNA or blood, which may be analysed using a sample of the body’s fluids.
Morphological biometrics are concerned with the structure of your body. More physiological characteristics, such as the eye, fingerprint, or facial shape, can be mapped for use with security scanners.
Behavioral biometrics are based on patterns that are unique to each individual. If these patterns are recorded, how people move, speak, or even type on a keyboard might reveal the identity.
Read more: Categories of Biometrics
What are the Uses of Biometrics?
Aside from biometric security systems, which are highly required by many businesses, it is difficult to picture a life without biometrics, whether in the sphere of entertainment gadgets, our daily routine, or even crime investigation.
Since the 1980s, biometrics has been used in fingerprint identification. When comparing collected fingerprints from crime scenes to registered fingerprints of persons in databases, automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) assist investigators. Biometric data sets are first recognised by appropriate scanners, then processed by software, and lastly recorded in databases. Biometric data is encrypted to prevent identity theft. The software’s individual characteristics are established as reference points and converted into a numerical value. The user’s biometric information is checked against the database during authentication. The authentication request is deemed successful when there is a match.
What is the example of Biometric Security?
Here are some common examples of biometric security:
- Voice Recognition
- Fingerprint Scanning
- Facial Recognition
- Iris Recognition
- Heart-Rate Sensor
How safe is biometric identification?
Devices, corporate databases, or the software used to analyse them may leak authentication credentials like voice recordings or fingerprint scans. There is also a substantial risk of false positives and negatives. A user who is wearing makeup or spectacles, or who is unwell or weary, may not be recognised by a face recognition system. Additionally, Voices, may differ due to various reasons such as, as well because of when they first get up, try to use their phone in a busy public place, medical condition or are furious or agitated. Masks, photographs, and voice recordings, replicas of fingerprints, and trusted family members or housemates can all be used to deceive recognition systems.
Experts advise businesses to utilise various methods of authentication at the same time and to escalate promptly if they see any red flags. For example, if the fingerprint matches but the face does not, or if the account is accessed from an odd place at an unusual time, it may be time to use a backup authentication technique or a second communication channel. This is especially important for financial transactions or password changes.
Read More: Biometrics and Cyber Security
