Biometrics
A security term.
This describes various technologies used to measure
some feature of a person in order to identify them
within a security system.
For example
Fingerprint recognition
Iris recognition
Voice recognition
Facial recognition
These biometric systems can also be combined together
to make a system more reliable.
The Identification Process
1.A person’s unique characteristic is captured and
stored in a database
2.When authentication is needed, a new record is
captured
3.The new record is compared to the stored record in
the database
4.If the data matches, the identity is confirmed
Advantages of using biometrics authentication
i. Convenience
Biometrics technology allows to conveniently determine
the right person from millions or authenticate the
right one within less than a second.
ii. Security
Biometrics technology reduces fraud activity by
identifying the right person at the right time.
iii. Reliability
Reliability is a psychological term which is the
ability to have relied on someone or something. When it
comes to biometrics technology, due to it’s
unforgettable, non-transferrable and robust security
features, it increases the reliability of human
identification.
iv. Accountability
Think about a workplace where biometrics technology
keeps track of the time and attendance of each
employee’s.
v. Cost Savings
Printing the ID cards or RFID and maintaining the
paper-based log books or registers incur overhead
costs. On the other hand, when employees get involved
in time theft, their productivity reduces. Biometrics
Technology doesn’t require any ID card or RFID and log
book or register for identification and increases
accountability eliminating time theft.
Disadvantages of using biometrics authentication
i. Costs
It’s no surprise that a more advanced security system
would require significant investments and costs
to implement.
ii. Data breaches
Businesses and governments that collect and store
users’ personal data are under constant threat from
hackers.
iii. Tracking and data
As the world increases its use of biometric
authentication systems like facial recognition
technology and other biometric security measures,
privacy of users’ needs to be taken into consideration.
When biometrics are converted into data and stored,
particularly in places or countries that have large
surveillance measures, a user runs the risk of leaving
a permanent digital record that can be potentially
tracked
