Like everyone else, you have distinguishable characteristics that are unique to you. These include things such as your voice, facial patterns, and fingerprints. These traits are your biometrics, and they are the most suitable and secure means of identifying and authenticating you in a fast and reliable way.
Meaning of Biometric Verification
This is an identity authentication process that uses people’s unique biological traits to confirm claimed identities. It allows users to prove their identity by providing a biometric sample and associated unique ID code to gain access to a secure environment.
Many organizations, services, systems, and devices use biometric verification instead of the username and password authentication system. This is because it is nearly impossible for one individual to replicate another individual’s unique biological signature. Usernames and passwords, on the other hand, are relatively easy to steal or guess.
Technology
You are probably familiar with some of the different types of biometrics. Nowadays, many consumer devices, such as smartphones and PCs, feature some form of biometric authentication. One of the most common forms of biometrics is fingerprint recognition. Many devices such as touchpads are fairly easy to turn into fingerprint scanners.
Also, some telephone-based services and digital assistants make use of voice recognition to identify and verify customers. With the rise of intelligent assistants and artificial intelligence such as Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, voice recognition is growing in use and popularity.
Facial recognition technology is another common form of biometrics. Any type of device with a camera, such as a smartphone, can leverage facial recognition technology. Today, instead of inputting a PIN or password, many people unlock their smartphones using their faces.
Biometric Authentication Process
The first step in the process is the retrieval of a biometric sample through a scan of the feature chosen for identification. This includes things such as hand geometry, voice patterns, fingerprint, facial geometry, or iris pattern. Next, there is a comparison of the sample to a database of authorized personnel.
When the sample comes out positive, the user then needs to use a unique ID code associated with the sample provided. The user gains access when both parameters match. This is standard for two-step verification processes.
Faced with changes in international regulation, identity theft, document fraud, cybercrime, and terrorism, new biometric security solutions are necessary. Increased public acceptance, a rich variety, huge accuracy gains, and falling prices of biometric verification software and devices make it easier to implement biometric systems. There is ongoing research and development aimed at improving such systems.