How Does Biometric Authentication Work To Prevent Computer Theft On Data Breach
“A person is his or her password.” This is how you define biometric authentication. One of the widely practiced authentication systems in today’s world, there has been an increasing popularity of the biometrics. Many fields have been using this concept to prevent computer theft on data breach, as it has been seen as more convenient and secure than any other traditional ways of protecting the computer data.
Biometric Authentication Definition: What Is It?
Biometric Authentication is a data security process, in which a person’s unique biological trait(s) is used to encrypt and access the data. The biometric data sample, such as fingerprints or facial structure, is stored in the database, and every time the user wants to get access to the computer, he/she has to enter data which is compared with the sample previously stored in the database. The access is only allowed if both of these data match. As the biological qualities of a person are very specific, biometric authentication has been taken as an assured method to prevent computer theft on data breach in today’s world.
Types of Biometric Authentication
It has been found out that the biometric authentication system has existed since the time of early Chinese civilization. People in those times used clay plates to hold a person’s fingerprint. But during this time of technology, the system doesn’t limit there, and there are various ways that data is secured with biometrics. They have been categorized into two classes, physiological biometrics, and behavioral biometrics.
Physiological Biometrics
As its name suggests, it depends on a person’s physical qualities to encrypt the data. Thus, it is also known as the physical biometric authentication system. The different types under the physiological biometrics are:
- Facial Recognition: This one uses a person’s unique facial structure. There are numeric codes on a person’s face, called faceprints, and this system works as it identifies those nodal points.
- Fingerprint: There are two ways of implementing the print, finger scanning and finger vein ID. The former works according to the raised areas and branches on the fingers, while the latter depends on the unique vascular pattern on a person’s finger.
- Eye Scan: There are two ways of scanning a person’s eye as a biometric protection system. They can be retina scan or iris recognition. Anyway, iris recognition is widely used as it is more effective and reliable.
- DNA Test: This is usually used in the field of medicine, health sciences or police work. Everyone has a different DNA structure, and the checking of such data is more manual-based than the computer.
Behavioral Biometrics
Another category of the biometric authentication used to prevent computer theft on data breach is the Behavioral Biometric. This is dependent on how a person ‘does things.’
- Signature: This is one of the most widely used behavioral biometrics. The input or recognition of signatures is mechanical and manual than machine-based, and this might, or might not be as effective as other systems depending on the situation.
- Speech Recognition: People have different vocal patterns depending on the pitch and the intensity of sound, and this is what’s used for voice recognition.
- Keystroke: The way of typing or using the mouse, such as the key seek time or the time spent on keeping a key pressed can be very specific to a person. And this is what makes the keystroke biometric system possible.
Challenges To The Biometric Authentication System
Despite being seen as one of the most effective ways to provide data security, the biometrics system still has some challenges that it has to address. Some of them are:
- Usage Confusion: Many options of the biometric authentication system means more confusion about choosing the right one. A system might or might not be ideal for a particular situation, and there will always remain a chance that the wrong decision is made.
- Expensive Devices: Even if biometrics are used widely, they are still costly. This usually affects the customers or users of a certain portal using biometrics; they will have to buy the devices used to input such data.
- Questionable Accuracy: Here is another issue with the biometric authentication system. A person’s bodily structure might not remain the same throughout their lives. Voice might deepen, eyes can catch a disease, and the face might change.
- Crackable Data: After all, the biometric data is a form of data stored in a database. This means they might still be exposed to potential hackers who could cause a lot of unwanted damage. Problems like this have been seen as bumps in the road of the growth of the biometric authentication system.
Here are the basics of biometric authentication. To further improve your data protection systems, you need a trusted managed security service provider who can help you 24/7. This is what IT Solution can do.
