Biometrics is a technology used for personal and business security by storing and comparing unique human characteristics. It can be physiological, such as fingerprints, or behavioral, such as handwriting. Biometrics is more reliable than regular identification and provides stronger security.
Biometrics is the technology used to uniquely identify a specific human being. It is mainly used to provide security for personal or business assets. A biometric system must first store a person’s biometric data. Then, when someone tries to access a personal or corporate system, the stored biometric data is compared with the data of the person currently accessing the system. If the data matches, the person can have access to the protected information.
A strong biometric system alleviates the weaknesses found in most security systems. For example, most people who use a password protected system create weak passwords. Passwords can often be guessed, which can allow thieves to gain access to sensitive information or financial resources. It also removes the problems associated with lost key cards and shared passwords. Biometrics are specific to one person only and cannot be stolen, guessed, lost or shared with another person.
A biometric system can be physiological or behavioral. If it is physiological, it measures a specific area of the human body. For example, one of the most basic and oldest ways to identify a person is through fingerprints. Devices that read fingerprints are quite inexpensive and can be added to computers, locks, external hard drives and credit cards.
Other physiological biometrics include a human hand scan, an iris scan, and a facial recognition scan. While the hand scan doesn’t collect data from fingerprints, it does measure the angles of the fingers, the alignment of the 27 bones in the hand, the pattern of the hand’s veins, and the location of other tissues, muscles, and tendons in the hand. The iris scan measures the set of muscles that control pupil dilation. Facial recognition scanning measures facial features, such as the distance between the eyes and ears and the shape of the nose and mouth.
A behavioral biometrics system examines how a particular person performs a specific activity. Some of the more common systems that use behavioral biometrics include data collected from a person’s handwriting, the way they type on a keyboard, the sound of their voice, and their gait. Data collected from a handwriting sample considers the image itself, pen movement, and pen pressure. When looking at keystrokes, rhythm, muscle tone, and timing are considered. Both sound and pattern are taken into consideration when voice and gait information is collected for a biometric system.
A good biometric system will only take into account a person’s unique and permanent characteristics. “Permanent” characteristics will only change very slowly, if at all, over time. For example, an adult hand should look essentially the same over a five-year period, barring exceptional events, such as an accident or surgery. Biometrics are more accurate and reliable than regular identification, making them one of the best ways to protect important information and assets.
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