The History of Biometric Authentication (2024)

FAQs

The History of Biometric Authentication? ›

The History of Biometric Authentication

High security:

Security concerns are one of the most important reasons why biometric authentication has become the need of the hour. With biometric authentication, you are able to eliminate payment fraud activities such as card skimming, chip switching and shoulder surfing, etc.

Biometric devices have been in use for thousands of years. Non-automated biometric devices have in use since 500 BC, when ancient Babylonians would sign their business transactions by pressing their fingertips into clay tablets.

There's evidence that fingerprints were used on clay tablets during Babylonian business transactions in 500 BC. Fourteenth century Chinese merchants used children's palms and footprints to distinguish them. And in early Egyptian history, traders were differentiated by their physical characteristics.

As biometrics are unique to each person and can't be easily copied, it is one of the best ways to keep any place safe. Biometrics is a fast and easy technology to use. It also makes it easy to keep track of visitors and can be used at any place where there is a need for this.

The History of Biometric Authentication

Biometrics can be traced back to ancient times when fingerprints and handprints were used as signatures and seals. The use of biometrics as a tool for identification and security purposes began in the late 19th century with the work of Alphonse Bertillon.

Biometric systems can make two basic errors. A “false positive” occurs when the system incorrectly matches an input to a non-matching template, while in a “false negative”, the system fails to detect a match between an input and a matching template.

Alphonse Bertillon (French: [bɛʁtijɔ̃]; 22 April 1853 – 13 February 1914) was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who applied the anthropological technique of anthropometry to law enforcement creating an identification system based on physical measurements.

Details: Records show the San Jose Police Department, in partnership with Santa Clara County, began using BlueCheck mobile fingerprinting devices in the field during the citation process as early as 2008, although the mobile identification program did not take off fully until two years later as part of the “Cal ID ...

Why are fingerprint scanners still the most widely used biometric technology? Fingerprint recognition is already well established. Law enforcement and forensics were among the first agencies to successfully employ this technology.

What are the 4 main types of biometrics? ›

Biometrics Authentication Methods

While there are many types of biometrics for authentication, the five most common types of biometric identifiers are: fingerprints, facial, voice, iris, and palm or finger vein patterns.

The best-known forms of biometric security are the fingerprint and iris scan. In addition, facial recognition and vein pattern recognition (of both finger and palm) are also on the rise.

A: Iris recognition is often considered one of the most secure biometric methods due to the uniqueness and stability of iris patterns. It's difficult to replicate or forge iris patterns, and the technology is resistant to many common spoofing attacks.

Using realistic INS data, one index fingerprint can provide 90% probability of verification with a 1% probability of false acceptance for verification.

Biometric authentication is the process of comparing a user's live identity to the biometrics you already have. Biometric verification, on the other hand, is when you validate a user's official ID documents.

As noted above, fingerprint scans are accurate at least 98% of the time at worst, with ideal outcomes topping out around 99.91% accuracy. However, biometrics overall do not meet NIST's standards for accuracy. NIST's ideal miss rate is 0.00001% or one error in every 100,000 scans.

Main advantages of using biometric indicators

They are linked to a single individual (unlike a password, which can be used without authorisation), They are very convenient since there is no need to remember or carry anything, The security, they are highly fraud resistant.

Biometric verification systems offer a robust and reliable verification method that ensures data privacy, security, and user satisfaction. It is an essential tool for preventing identity theft and fraud and provides unparalleled access control and authorizations.

Biometrics increases the security of customer logins since they are using unique physical features to verify themselves. Unlike regular passwords, facial or fingerprint recognition is unique for each person, which makes it extremely hard to forge and be used against you.

Biometric authentication is an effective way to secure digital devices and data. It provides a higher level of security and convenience than traditional authentication methods. However, it also has its disadvantages, such as privacy concerns, false positives, and high costs.