Biometrics

WHAT IS “Biometrics”? Biometrics is the technology that uses humans’ unique personal characteristics to identify a person. Face structure Fingerprints Hand geometry (shape of hand and finger lengths) Retina and Iris (Eyes’ blood vessels and coloured ring in our eyes) Signature Vein patterns in hands Voice

Some ways in which biometrics is used: Payment E.g. ATM Iris recognition – scans a person’s eye to access the ATM account More secure than using a debit/credit cards. Credit cards can lost Measure body size and keep track of their body changes during training process Passports with computer chips Impossible for face copies Fighting crime Install the biometric program in security cameras to detect theft’s face structure walking on the streets etc, so police can catch them.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF BIOMETRICS? Increase security Quicker log in to accounts/ checking for matching of fingerprints No more problems about losing ID cards or forgetting passwords Replace hard-to-remember passwords which may be shared or observed Make it possible, automatically, to know WHO did WHAT, WHERE and WHEN!

What are the possible drawbacks? Danger to owners – cutting finger off etc. If the data of biometrics were hacked from database , we cannot create/change a new ‘password’ – because we cannot change our fingerprints etc. These systems are not always reliable as human beings change over time if you are ill If you use biometrics, you are always tracked by database – privacy issues Expensive security solution If the system fails, you cannot get through the doors or log in to your account