The Benefits of Using Biometrics for Your Digital Identity
Security
Biometrics can offer an extra layer of security to your digital identity. It can verify who you are, and reduce fraudulent activities such as phishing or hacking.
q Biometrics are a much safer way to secure your account than traditional passwords since they are based on physical features that cannot be stolen or copied. They are also more convenient because you don’t have to remember a long string of random numbers and letters.
In addition, the verification process is performed entirely on-device. This ensures that your biometric data is not stored anywhere, unlike a password which can be compromised by hackers and potentially shared with other parties. However, if you have a static biometric modality such as fingerprint, facial recognition or voice recognition, it is essential to ensure that it includes liveness detection which can prevent spoofing of a person’s traits during a presentation attack. Also, be sure to assess manufacturer published performance metrics, particularly those based on ideal testing conditions.
Convenience
Biometrics offer convenience, especially in mobile devices, where passwords are easy for hackers to crack. They are a great way to authenticate transactions quickly and securely, and can be augmented with security keys to add another layer of protection.
q biometrics also reduce the risk of fraudulent activities such as identity theft and phishing by offering a secure way to verify a user’s identity. This is particularly important for financial services, where implementing strong authentication can reduce account takeovers and other malicious activity.
q biometrics are becoming increasingly convenient to use, with fingerprint and face recognition already being used by select airlines for check-in and hotels to enable self-check in. They can also be used to unlock connected cars, like the GV70, and can be paired with Carpay to allow simple in-car transactions. This will make biometrics more widely adopted in a variety of ways and further increase their value to users. The key to selecting a biometric modality is understanding your security goals and convenience preferences and finding the method that best fits those needs.
Privacy
Biometrics are a more secure alternative to traditional passwords because they use physical features. These characteristics cannot be stolen or copied, making them a harder target for fraudulent activities.
However, biometrics are not impervious to spoofing techniques that use captured data (something that was already stolen). As such, it is critical that all q systems include liveness detection to combat spoofing attacks that leverage capture devices or databases and to reduce false acceptance rates.
Many states have passed biometric privacy laws that require businesses to provide notice and obtain consent before collecting or sharing biometric data. These requirements may also prohibit the sale or profiting from collected data. In addition, some state biometric privacy laws, such as California’s BIPA, impose time limitations on how long a business may retain and process a person’s voice or face. This requires careful consideration when designing a system.
Ethical Concerns
Biometric technology uses a unique feature of each person—such as a fingerprint or facial features—to verify identity. As such, if this data falls into the wrong hands, it could be used for identity theft or other malicious purposes.
Moreover, the nature of the system’s intimate connection to users can raise ethical concerns regarding privacy and personal information protection. Privacy breaches, even if isolated to a small group of individuals, can generate a negative response and create distrust in the technological systems as well as those institutions that require their use.
It is important for those who design and deploy these systems to address the social impacts of their work. Failure to do so can diminish the efficacy of these systems. For example, the use of facial recognition systems may be unacceptable for some people because of religious beliefs or cultural norms. Likewise, the use of fingerprinting systems in schools can raise concerns about student privacy and government surveillance.
