Biometrics Biometrics refers primarily to the measurement of physiological and behavioral characteristics to automatically identify people

Biometrics

Biometrics refers primarily to the measurement of physiological and behavioral characteristics to automatically identify people.

http://cubs.buffalo.edu/about_biometrics.shtml

Copyright © 2008 by Helene G. Kershner

Biometrics

• Biometrics is the study of automated methods for uniquely recognizing humans based upon one or more intrinsic physical or behavioral traits

• biometric authentication refers to technologies for measuring and analyzing human physical and behavioral characteristics for authentication purposes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biometrics


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authentication




Biometrics

“The European Union has given the green light to biometric passports.”– Children’s passports” will not feature biometric

identification” because their fingerprints are still developing.

– Civil liberty and security researchers are objecting believing that “that storing so many biometric records in a central European database is a security risk.”

http://www.securecomputing.net.au/News/134477,eu-approves-biometric-

passports.aspx Copyright © 2009 by Helene G. Kershner

Biometrics

• Physiological characteristics – face – fingerprint – DNA

• Behavioral characteristics – signature – voiceprint – gait– http://cubs.buffalo.edu/about_biometrics.shtml


Biometrics

• Issues and Concerns

• Technology has the potential to do great things. • It also brings with it the potential to do harm.

• Are concerns surrounding biometric use real or imagined?

• Do our concerns prevent us from seeing the vast potential of the new technologies developed using biometrics






BiometricsIssues and Concerns: This could happen -

• DNA is planted at the scene of the crime• Assume another's identity by using the person’s biometrics

or simulating their biometrics. In this way, impersonate them without arousing suspicion

• Fool a fingerprint detector by using a piece of sticky tape with an authentic fingerprint on it

• Fool an iris recognition camera by showing a photo of another’s iris

• Hack into the interface between a biometric device and the host system, so that a "fail" message gets converted to a "pass".






Biometrics

Issues and Concerns

• Biometric measurements are more difficult to forge

• Since biometrics more problematic when lost or stolen


Biometrics

Identity theft

Biometrics can confuse the solution• Credit card theft is a significant problem for the

individual involved. • BUT, If a person’s fingerprints are stolen, the

damage could be irreversible. • Are biometric technologies being used without

adequate safeguards?


BiometricsPrivacy

• Biometrics are often are touted as a way to reduce crime. – Yet, privacy advocates fear biometrics may be used to

decrease personal liberties of law abiding citizens.• Developments in digital video, infrared, x-ray,

wireless, global positioning satellite systems, image scanning, voice recognition, DNA, and brain wave fingerprinting provide government with new ways to "search" individuals – Now organizations collect vast databases of

information on law-abiding members of the public.



Biometrics

• Who is watching the watchers? • The 4th Amendment guarantees free speech and

a right to privacy. Do biometrics strip away these rights?

• If everyone is biometrically “searched” at a concert or sporting event and compared with a database of known terrorists we “may” be safer, but have we lost something in exchange?


Biometrics

Sociological concerns• As technology advances, more and more

private companies and public utilities will use biometrics for safe, accurate identification.

• Is this the direction we want technology to go?• Are there physical dangers:

– Are retinal scans safe?– How accurate are the devices in question?– If DNA is found at the site of an investigation, who

knows when I was there?


Biometrics & Forensics

• “Forensic Science– The application of the natural and physical

sciences to questions of legal or public concern.

– The most common application is the analysis of evidence, such as blood, hairs, fibers, bullets, and fingerprints, from criminal cases like bank robberies, homicides, and kidnappings.”

– Applied after a situation has occurred http://www.biometrics.org/bc2004/Presentations/Conference/



• Biometrics is used before an event has

occurred. – “gaining access, surveillance, or verification– biometrics chooses which mode of

identification will be used”

http://www.biometrics.org/bc2004/Presentations/Conference/



• Toolkit is often the same– Fingerprint analysis– Biometric identification– Video analysis– “Impression” analysis– Document analysis– Database comparison

http://www.mediacy.com/index.aspx?page=ForensicBiometrics



• Using biometrics for digital identification – http://www.helium.com/items/1243592-fingerprint-vs-

biometrics

http://www.mediacy.com/index.aspx?page=ForensicBiometrics


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Biometrics Biometrics refers primarily to the measurement of physiological and behavioral characteristics to automatically identify people