What is Biometric Authentication

There is a lot of confusion about exactly what is biometric authentication, especially when it comes to biometric verification vs authentication. In short, it is a type of authentication that uses a person’s unique characteristics to verify their identity.

Biometrics is the science of measuring, recording, and analyzing the human body’s characteristics and traits.

When it comes to application, those characteristics can be fingerprints, irises, faces, voices, and even DNA.

The purpose of biometric information is to verify identity by comparing it to the stored information of that person and even people.

It is widely used in access control systems, such as door locks and computer login, as well as in security devices such as security guards, security cameras, and fingerprint scanners.

There are many different types of biometrics thanks to the technologies advancing worldwide, some of which are more accurate than others. In this article, we will lay out the future of security and Biometric Authentication.

Types of biometric authentication

It has only two major kinds; this is behavioural and physical. Behavioural biometrics is a type or way of authentication that mostly deals with the measure of uniquely identifying and measurable patterns in human activity.

These are voice recognition, keystroke dynamics, how we use objects, gestures, gait recognition, and the sound of steps.

These measurements mostly prove that these methods can’t be relied on. This is because, in different situations, the data may change.

Physical biometrics contrasts with the other application, for it mostly relies on the physical traits of an individual. These traits are fingerprints, face shape, retina, the iris of the eye, finger geometry, and DNA, each with different features. This analysis defines the physiological characteristics of an individual.

How it works

The authentication mainly works by comparing two sets of data, one of the “owner” and the second of the “visitor.” When the two data match in the database, the device recognizes the person as the same, giving access to the individual.

The data being compared is not perfect for preventing it from denying access to the right user. This is because of various reasons. For example, If the user is verifying by using a fingerprint, he or she might have a scar or sweaty prints, hence making the process inconvenient for verification. Hence due to these reasons, these applications are modified in every Biometric recognition device.

Biometric systems

It has greatly improved modern technology and even the account of security and recognition, which many companies have planned on inputting these systems. The following are types of the same technologies with their pros and cons.

Fingerprint Reader:

With time fingerprints have become one of the most commonly used biometric systems. This has also brought out great evolution in the three different types of automated fingerprint identification systems.
These three types are optimal fingerprint reader, which uses light (optimal), capacitive fingerprint reader, which employs electrical energy, and an ultrasonic fingerprint reader.

Pro

• Fingerprints are easy to use for you don’t have to stress remembering your password because you are always carrying your biometric information with you hence making the services less stressful.
• it’s a more secure method because no other person in the world can match your prints, not even identical twins.

Cons

• System may fail to register an individual simply because he or she is excluded from fingerprint verification.
• Fake fingerprints can be used and even bypass the sensors hence creating a breach in security.

Facial recognition:

This is one of the things we mostly do by recognizing someone from others; this happens in our brain. This has also been used widely, including for security purposes.

Pros

• It can be used by law enforcers to find criminals even from a large crowd.
• It can be used for surveillance purposes, for example, putting cameras in your place of work or even at home.
• It requires less human interaction than other security systems such as fingerprints and passwords.

Cons

• In some incidents, it may be tricked if one applies makeup hence mistaking the individual’s identity.
• It disrupts privacy example, in workplaces where cameras are being used.

Voice recognition:

This is the use of voice for recognizing individuals. It mainly comes in two types Dependent and independent.

Pros

• More convenient than typing a password.
• Everybody has his unique voice.

Cons

• It is less efficient in places with background noise hence inconvenience to users