Biometrics
Stephen Schmidt
Brian Miller
Devin Reid
What are Biometrics?
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Biometrics is the study of uniquely identifying
humans based solely on intrinsic physical
traits.
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Biometric technology can be used as a
method of authentication, based on an
individuals unique characteristics.
How Biometrics Work
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First an individual registers with the system
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The information is the processed by a numerical algorithm, and
entered into a database
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Every time a user tries to gain access to the system, or authenticate,
the biometric needs to be recaptured and processed into a digital
template
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This new Biometric template is then compared with the original
template using hamming distance
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Hamming distance is the comparison of how similar two bit strings are
Why use Biometrics?
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''The password is becoming obsolete and hackable''
-
Mike Miley, vice president of Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC)
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Convenience
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Different Methods perceived as more secure
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May actually be more secure
Useful as a deterrent
Passive Identification
Downside of Biometrics
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COST
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Still working out the kinks
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Biometrics vs. Smartcards
Error rate for some biometrics is still high
In 5 years Biometrics will be widely used
Biometric Authentication
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Many different Biometrics may be used for
Authentication:
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Facial Recognition
Hand Geometry
Iris Scanner
Speech Recognition
Fingerprint Scanner
DNA Analysis
Facial Recognition
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Every face has numerous distinguishable landmarks
that make up facial features, these landmarks are
defined as nodal points, there are 80 nodes.
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These are some of the most common nodes
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Distance Between the eyes
Width of the nose
Depth of the eye sockets
Shape of cheek bones
Length of jaw line
Hand Geometry
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Hand Geometry less unique than other traits, such
as fingerprint or iris scans.
This is why schools, and not high security areas
tend to use hand geometry
It provides user authentication, not user
identification
They operate by using a digital camera and light, a
camera takes a picture of your hand and its shadow,
and analyzes it to make a numerical template
Iris Scanner
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Some people confuse iris scans with retina
scans, retinal scans are an older technology that
requires a bright light to illuminate a person’s
retina, a sensor would take a picture of the blood
vessel located in the back of the eye.
Some people found this procedure invasive, and
peoples retinas change as they age.
Iris Scanner cont.
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A simple digital camera that uses both visible and nearinfrared light that takes a clear high contrast picture of a
persons iris. With near-infrared light the pupil appears
very-black making it easy for a computer to differentiate
between the pupil and the iris.
When the camera takes a picture it locates:
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The center of the pupil, the edge of the pupil, the edge of the iris,
eyelids and eyelashes
A chance of mistaking one iris code for another is 1 in
1078
It also allows for more then 200 points of reference
Speech Recognition
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This is currently the only biometric that provides
remote authentication
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Speech recognition captures a person’s voice, the
physical characteristics of the vocal track and its
harmonic and resonant frequencies.
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It then compared it with a stored voice print, created
during an enrollment process.
Fingerprint Scanner
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No two fingerprints are exactly alike
Scanners operate in one of two ways:
 Taking a high resolution image of the fingerprint
 Capacitance Scanner, scans the finger for conductance on
different locations.
To compare fingerprints, the system compares specific features,
rather then the entire print. Typically focus is put on point where
ridgelines end or ridges spilt.
Collectively these points are referred to as minutiae
The scanner recognizes these features, and compares the
relative positions to one another
To get a match, the entire print does not need to match; just a
per-specified number of matches must occur.
DNA Analysis
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DNA is the least useful for biometric authentication,
but most useful for biometric identification
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Examiners have to extract DNA from cells, quantify
the DNA, and amplify the DNA using PMR.
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DNA Samples are then compared
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The probability of two people having the same DNA
profile, is about 1 in 1 billion
Comparing Biometrics
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Biometrics may be compared by the following:
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Universality describes how commonly a biometric is found in each
individual.
Uniqueness is how well the biometric separates one individual from
another.
Permanence measures how well a biometric resists aging.
Collectability explains how easy it is to acquire a biometric for
measurement.
Performance indicates the accuracy, speed, and robustness of the
system capturing the biometric.
Acceptability indicates the degree of approval of a technology by the
public in everyday life.
Circumvention is how hard it is to fool the authentication system.
Effectiveness of Biometrics
The Future of Biometrics
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Currently biometrics only cover user
authentication, and slowly provide user
identification.
Biometrics cannot provide user confidentiality
This is because:
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Biometric information is too easily compromised
The encryption algorithm must be private, in order
to keep 3rd party users from generating your key
from your biometric.