What are biometrics?

Biometrics refers to the automated recognition of an individual based on their physical or behavioral characteristics. This can include things like fingerprints, facial features, voice patterns, iris or retina scans, or even a person's unique gait or typing style.

Biometric systems are used for identification and authentication purposes, generally as part of a Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) setup. They work by comparing a person's biometric data to a stored template or database to determine whether the person is who they claim to be.

Biometric technologies have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their convenience and enhanced security features. Many people use their face, fingerprint or certain gestures to unlock their mobile devices. Biometrics are also frequently used to grant access to secure facilities or devices. However, security experts have expressed concerns about the privacy and security of biometric data.

Biometrics definition

The idea of using biometric data for identification and authentication purposes is not new. In fact, it can be traced back to ancient civilizations, which used tattoos and other markings on the body to identify individuals. In 1910, fingerprint evidence was used to successfully identify a suspect in an Illinois murder case. However, the modern use of biometrics as a technology-based system began in the 1960s, with the development of automated fingerprint recognition systems.

The primary motivation behind the creation of biometrics was to improve the security of systems and processes that are used to verify a person's identity. Traditional methods of identification, such as passwords or ID cards, can be stolen, lost, or easily forgotten, making them vulnerable to fraud and identity theft. Biometrics, on the other hand, are unique to each individual and difficult to replicate, making them a more secure and reliable way of verifying identity.

In addition to security, biometric systems also offer convenience and efficiency by eliminating the need for physical tokens or passwords. Biometric authentication is faster and more streamlined, making it ideal for high-traffic areas like airports or secure facilities, where speed and accuracy are critical.

Today, biometric technology has advanced significantly, and new biometric methods are being developed and refined all the time. However, as with any new technology, there are also concerns around privacy and security, particularly with the growing use of biometric data in commercial applications and for government surveillance.

The difference between passwords and biometrics

The primary difference between biometrics and passwords is in how they are used to verify a person's identity.

Passwords are a secret combination of characters or words that a user creates and remembers, and then provides as proof of their identity. They are often used in conjunction with a username or other identifiers to gain access to a particular system, device or account. However, passwords can be forgotten, lost or stolen. In fact, the overwhelming majority of successful data breaches and ransomware attacks can be traced back to compromised passwords.

However, biometrics are not impossible to steal, which is why, in practice, biometric authentication is rarely used as a standalone authentication method. Instead, it’s used in conjunction with other authentication methods – especially passwords and PINs – as part of an MFA setup. For example, a smartphone might require a user to enter a password or PIN before allowing them to utilize their biometric data (such as their fingerprint) to unlock the device.

Can biometrics be hacked?

The unfortunate answer is yes. While biometric authentication is generally considered to be more secure than traditional password-based authentication, it is not immune to compromise. Biometric systems are vulnerable to several types of attacks, including the following:

Spoofing or presentation attacks: This involves an attacker creating a fake biometric sample (such as a facial image or fingerprint) that is similar enough to a real sample to trick the system into accepting it as genuine. Increasingly accurate “deep fakes” present a very serious threat to biometric authentication.

Replay attacks: This involves an attacker capturing and replaying a biometric sample that was previously captured, for example, by intercepting the transmission of a biometric image or sound, lifting someone’s fingerprint or photographing their face in high resolution.

Data breaches: Biometrics are stored in databases – and databases can be breached.

Physical attacks: An attacker might physically force a user to provide their biometric sample, such as by holding a camera to their face or forcing them to touch a fingerprint scanner.

To mitigate these risks, biometric systems must be designed with multiple security measures, such as encryption and hashing of biometric data and “liveness detection” to ensure that the sample is coming from a live human and not a photograph. Additionally, biometrics should not be used as a standalone authentication method.