BIOMETRICS – AN UPCOMING TECHNOLOGY

BIOMETRICS – AN UPCOMING TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION:

Many organizations struggle with the problem of authentication; how users prove their identity in order to get access to applications or other resources. How strong or how secure does the authentication process need to be? Is the combination of a username and password sufficient? If not, should a token device – like SecurID or digital certificate be required? None of these solutions is without its problems.

In recent years, biometric technology has emerged as a practical alternative that offers a reasonable level of security. This brief paper offers some insight into the key benefits and critical limitations of the technology.

Biometrics, defined broadly, is the scientific discipline of observing and measuring relevant attributes of living individuals or populations to identify active properties or unique characteristics Bank auto-teller machines have improved the security level with the requirement that the customer must also provide something known, such as a PIN number. Keys, transponders and smart-cards can be stolen, and, in some cases, copied. PIN number or other forms of knowledge, such as passwords, can be forgotten or observed and are also inconvenient to remember and use.

Biometrics provides the advantage that access is based on who the user is, and not on what is possessed or known. This implies that the driver himself becomes the key. Convenience is improved, as a key or transponder are no longer required.


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