What is biometric authentication and how is it done?

Biometric authentication refers to a cybersecurity process that verifies a user’s identity using their unique biological characteristics, such as fingerprints, voice, retina, and facial features. Biometric authentication systems store this information to verify the user’s identity when the user accesses their account. This type of authentication is usually more secure than traditional forms of multi-factor authentication. In this article from the Avir artificial intelligence website, we are going to further investigate biometric authentication and learn about its advantages and disadvantages. Stay with us.

What is biometric authentication?

Biometrics is a technical term to refer to human physical or behavioral characteristics. Biometric authentication is a concept in data security. Biometric authentication solutions create a data-generated model that represents an individual’s identity. Security systems can use that model and biometric information to authenticate access to applications and other network resources. Biometric authentication is quickly becoming a popular solution in multi-factor authentication strategies because it combines the challenge of strong authentication with an easy and user-friendly user experience.

If we want to say what is biometric authentication in simpler language, we have to say that biometric authentication refers to a cyber security process that verifies the identity of a user using his unique biological characteristics such as fingerprint, voice, retina and facial features. Biometric authentication systems store this information to verify the user’s identity when the user accesses the account.

Types of biometric authentication methods

In the following, we mention some common biometric authentication methods that are designed for network security and preventing cyber criminal activities. Below are some biometric authentication technologies that you may use on a daily basis.

1. Face recognition

These systems use the unique features of people’s faces to identify them. Facial recognition authentication is used in various places such as smartphones, ATMs, and law enforcement.

2. Fingerprint recognition

Fingerprint authentication uses a person’s unique fingerprint to verify their identity. Fingerprint biometric authentication can be used to secure almost anything, from mobile devices to cars and even building locks. This has made fingerprint recognition the most widespread biometric authentication technology.

Authentication with retina (iris detection)

Retina authentication, also known as iris recognition, uses a person’s iris or retina pattern to identify them. Because this type of biometric authentication is more difficult to implement than other methods, it is less popular than other types of biometric authentication options. Iris scanning and eye recognition requires an infrared light source, a camera that can see infrared light, and minimal light pollution to ensure accuracy. Although this biometric authentication method has its own challenges, it is one of the most accurate biometric authentication systems. Eye detection is generally used in situations where security is critical, such as nuclear research facilities, etc.

3. Voice recognition

Voice recognition uses unique tones, pitches, and frequencies to authenticate. Voice recognition is the most common type of biometric authentication used to verify users when contacting a call center for customer service support (eg, online banking).

4. Walking detection

Gait recognition authenticates people by using their walking pattern. Each person’s way of walking is different from another; Therefore, the way a person puts one foot in front of the other is an effective way to confirm his identity. Currently, gait pattern authentication is not a common form of biometric authentication, but it is expected to become more common in the future as different authentication methods become more popular.

5. Venous diagnosis

Vein recognition uses the pattern of blood vessels in a person’s hand or finger to identify their identity. This type of biometric authentication uses infrared light to map the veins under the skin of the hand or fingers. Vein recognition is even more accurate than authentication using retina/iris recognition.

What is multi-factor biometric authentication?

First, we need to know what a one-way biometric authentication system is. A unimodal biometric authentication system is one that verifies only one distinct feature, such as a face, fingerprint, or retina. This system is very prone to fraud.

This is where Multimodal Biometric Authentication comes into play. Multimodal biometric authentication is an approach where different biometrics are checked during authentication. This method makes it more difficult for hackers and fraudsters.

An example of multi-factor authentication: A hacker might be able to find a person’s photo on the Internet and then use it to successfully trick a facial recognition system into thinking it’s the real user. If the system has only one biometric authentication method, users’ accounts are easily hacked. However, if the system requires the user to provide additional authentication, such as sending a video that repeats a sentence, the likelihood of a hack is much less.

By combining physical and behavioral authentication, you can increase the security posture of your business. Even if a forger succeeds in forging a fingerprint, the system can detect a change in behavior and ban him from logging in. For example, they may interact with the system slower than a real user, or use keyboard shortcuts that a real user would never use.

Advantages and disadvantages of biometric authentication

In the following, we will examine the benefits and risks of biometric authentication.

Benefits of biometric authentication

High level of confidence in identity verification: Biometric authentication is the answer to the question that “a person is who he claims to be”. Biometric authentication ensures higher levels of assurance for end users. Sophisticated and advanced biometric authentication algorithms allow organizations and businesses to know that a person is who they say they are through a tangible, real-world attribute. Even if a cyber attacker knows a user’s password or the answer to their security question, there is no way they can copy a fingerprint or iris scan.

Ease of use: Although biometric authentication is more technical in terms of its internal process and has its own design complexities, it is usually easy and fast for the user. By using a fingerprint scanner to unlock your account or facial recognition, you’ll reduce the number of times you have to log in with a long password that has multiple special characters and is likely to be forgotten.

Easier to detect fraud: Biometric duplication is almost impossible. Biometric features are hard to duplicate and steal, and there is only a 1 in 64 billion chance that your fingerprint will match someone else’s fingerprint exactly. It is highly unlikely that a hacker will be able to access anything secured with biometrics.

Disadvantages of biometric authentication

Hackability: Biometric features are hackable. Businesses and governments that collect and store users’ personal data are under constant threat from hackers. However, if they fall victim to a data breach, biometric data is irreplaceable and organizations must treat users’ biometrics with care and caution.

Partial matching: Most common biometric authentication methods rely on partial information to authenticate a user. For example, during the registration process to register your fingerprint, it takes data from all your printed information and converts it into data. However, during future authentication, only part of the fingerprint data is required to verify your identity, making it faster and more immediate.

Failure to identify an authentic user: When you register a face, you register a certain angle and expression of your face. However, since the system only has data at the time of the registration process, whenever the user wears glasses, makeup, or even a smile, facial recognition can hardly recognize the user, which can make the login process difficult. slow

Involvement of human bias in recognition: Facial recognition systems may not accurately recognize people of color or women. Many biometric systems have been trained primarily using photographs of white people and white men. This embeds an inherent bias in them that leads to difficulty identifying women and people of color. Poor implementation of technology or deliberate misuse can lead to racial and gender discrimination.

Fear of Biometric Data Sharing: Is it acceptable for companies to sell or provide individuals’ biometric data to others, such as law enforcement or repressive foreign governments? Privacy concerns have led many US states to enact biometric privacy laws.

Data storage: Biometric data must be stored securely wherever it is stored. Biometric data cannot be reset like a password. If the biometric data is hacked, there’s really nothing the user can do, for example, they can’t change their fingerprint or iris.

Comparison of password and biometric authentication: which one is stronger?

As we know, biometric authentication adds an additional barrier to other security measures and enables multi-factor authentication. Biometric authentication methods are usually performed using a mobile device or laptop because their use requires the physical presence of the user for authentication. Biometric authentication is a powerful form of authentication because, unlike passwords, they are very difficult to recreate.

On the other hand, passwords can be easily hacked through several methods. The most common threat to passwords is phishing attacks, where hackers pose as customer service representatives or send an email to the user and collect the password from the victim. With biometric authentication, you cannot send an exact authentication method without physically being present or registering on that device.

Comparison of password and biometric authentication

Biometric authentication is a stronger method than a password because it is unique to the user’s face and fingerprint identity. There is no way to replicate it and spoofing attacks are much less common.

Use cases of biometric authentication

The most common uses of biometric authentication are:

1. Hospitals and centers providing medical services

Hospitals mainly use biometric authentication to accurately track patients and avoid any problems. Clinics and doctors’ offices are also using biometric authentication to keep patient information safe. Using biometric authentication, hospitals and clinics can store and access patients’ medical histories at any time.

2. Travel process

Electronic passports contain a microchip that stores biometric information in regular passports. The chip stores a digital image of the passport holder’s photo linked to their name and other identifying information. An electronic passport is issued electronically by an issuing authority of the country that verifies the applicant’s identity through fingerprints or other biometric information and verifies the data in the chip with the information provided by the applicant before issuing the passport.

3. Law enforcement

Law enforcement uses different types of biometric data for identification purposes. Intelligence agencies use fingerprints, facial features, iris patterns, voice samples and DNA to identify criminals. This makes it faster and easier for them to access confidential information.

Frequently asked questions about biometric authentication

• What is biometric authentication?

Biometric authentication is the process of verifying an individual’s identity using physiological or cognitive characteristics, such as a fingerprint, face, or eye scan.

• How is biometric authentication done?

For biometric authentication, samples of a person’s biometric characteristics are taken and compared to a database to confirm the person’s identity.

• What security measures are taken to protect biometric information?

Strong encryption and advanced security systems are used to protect biometric information. Also, biometric information is stored in a safe place and access to it is restricted.