Biometrics And Security
Is Biometric security actually making your smartphone more secure?
With the emergence of new technology in the world, the security of one’s privacy has become a very significant issue. People all around the world are using smartphones and are using various techniques to keep their smartphones more secure. People may put a unique pattern or even a password to unlock their phones. This is essential so that their information remains secure from others.
Why we need biometric security?
A smartphone user is exposed to various threats when he/she use their phones. These threats can disrupt the operation of the smartphone and transmit or modify user data. So, applications must assure the privacy and integrity of the information user handle. In addition, since some apps could themselves be malware, their functionality and activities should be limited (for example- blocking access to a user’s address book, sending SMS’s that are billed to the user, preventing transmission of data on the network, restricting the apps from accessing location information via GPS etc.).
There are three main targets for attackers:-
(1) Information/Data: Smartphones are used for data management and may contain sensitive data like credit card numbers, authentication information, private information, activity logs, call logs, etc.
(2) Availability: The owner might not be able to use a smartphone, as attacking it can limit to its access.
(3) Identity: Smartphones are among highly customizable devices, so a specific person can be associated with a device or its content. For example- every mobile device can transmit data related to its owner and an attacker may want to steal the identity of the owner of that particular smartphone to accomplish other misdemeanors.
Smartphone’s Pin/Password can be:
-Forgotten.
-Lost.
-Stolen.
-Hacked.
What is meant by biometric security?
Biometric security is where the mechanism is used to authenticate and provide access to the system based on automatic and instant verification of an individual’s physical characteristics.
Biometric security devices measure the unique characteristics of a person such as voice pattern, the iris or retina pattern of the eye, or fingerprint patterns. With biometrics, it can be extremely difficult for someone to break into such a system.
Biometric security devices play a crucial role in verifying a person’s identity by enforcing access control methods through their unique biological traits.
The need for using biometrics in smartphones came into existence since smartphones have become vulnerable to attacks from hackers. Biometrics allows only the registered users of smartphones to use their gadgets and in this way, it protects their private information. By using biometric security, you can make your mobile apps more secure so that no one can access them without your consent.
Types of Biometric Sensors:-
Biometric sensors or access control systems are classified into two types, such as Physiological Biometrics and Behavioral Biometrics. Physiological biometrics mainly include face recognition, fingerprint, hand geometry, iris recognition, and DNA. Whereas behavioral biometrics include keystroke, signature and voice recognition. For a better understanding of this concept, some of them are discussed below.
Biometric security can protect:-
-Bank accounts.
-Sensitive information.
-Documents.
-Photos.
-Emails and more.
As far as authentication is concerned biometric security provides more,
Increased security, convenience, and accountability.
And in case of identification, biometric security can be used for,
Fraud detection, fraud deterrence, and other things.
Pros of using biometrics:-
(1) Hard to fake.
(2) Secure and long lasting.
(3) Increased accountability.
(4) Increased convenience of the user.
(5) Easy to use.
(6) Require less database storage area.
Cons of using biometrics:-
(1) Lack of accuracy.
(2) Vulnerable to hackers’ attack.
(3) Improper functioning, resulting in inappropriate acceptance and rejections.
(4) Expenses of setting up and maintenance of the biometric system.
We can thus infer that even though biometric security is on the verge of revolution, and is getting more advanced making headway with the latest smartphones, and other technologies, but there are both positive and negative facts to it.
