Biometric Security Systems
Abstract- The word biometric can be
defined as "Life - Measure". A well
orchestrated biometric authentication
solution not only prevents and detects an
imposter but also keeps a secure log of
transaction activities for prosecution of
imposters. This paper provides an
overview of the various types of
biometric technologies present in
civilian and military domains, their
applications, advantages and
disadvantages. The paper also describes
the future prospects of biometric security
systems.
Keywords-Identification, Verification,
False Accept Rate (FAR), False Reject
Rate (FRR).
Introduction- The present day world is
obsessed with security. It is easy to
understand the need for biometrics if
you've ever forgot or left your network
password on your computer. There is an
increasing need to find a way to solve
user identification issues and cut costs
for password administration. There are
many reasons to consider this form of
personal identification. For each reason,
authenticating ourselves by who we are
and not what we know, what we carry,
or how we choose to identify ourselves
(i.e. PINs, passwords, smart card
security token) solves and simplifies
these issues. Biometrics combined with
other automation can eliminate our sole
reliance on a paper trail for a given
transaction or event.
The biometric authentication system
cannot fall prey to hackers; it can’t be
shared, lost or guessed. Therefore it is an
efficient way to replace the traditional
password based authentication system.
Biometric Classification
Biometric characteristics can be divided
in two main categories physiological and
behavioral. The biometric systems
consist of three basic elements:
Enrollment is the process of collecting
biometric samples from an individual
known as enrollee and subsequent
generation of his template.
Template is the data representing the
enrollee’s biometric.
Matching is the process of comparing
the live biometric sample against one or
many templates in the system’s database.
Characteristics for identification-
1. The physical characteristic should
not change over the course of the
person's lifetime
2. The physical characteristics must
identify the individual person
uniquely.
3. The characteristic needs to be easily
scanned with immediate results.
4. The data must be simply checked in
an automated way.
5. Ease of use by system operators and
individuals.
While there are many possible
biometrics, at least eight mainstream
biometric technologies have been
deployed which are classified into two
major categories Contact and non
Contact biometric. Contact Biometric
can be sub classified as Fingerprint,
hand/ finger geometry, Dynamic
signature verification, Keystroke
dynamics. The non contact biometric
technologies may be sub classified as
Facial Recognition, Voice recognition,
Iris scan, Retinal Scan.
Fingerprint biometric takes an image of
a person's fingertips and records its
characteristics. This information may
then be processed or stored as an image
or as an encoded computer algorithm to
be compared with other fingerprint
records. This Technique finds
applications in Law enforcement, fraud
prevention and Computer access. Hand
geometry involves the measurement and
analysis of the shape of one's hand. It is
a fairly simple procedure and is
surprisingly accurate. Though it requires
special hardware to use, it can be easily
integrated into other devices or systems.
Unlike fingerprints, the human hand isn't
unique. Individual hand features are not
descriptive enough for identification.
However, it is possible to devise a
method by combining various individual
features and measurements of fingers
and hands for verification purposes.
Signature verification is the process used
to recognize an individual’s hand-
written signature. It uses the behavioral
biometrics of a hand written signature to
confirm the identity of a computer user.
This is done by analyzing the shape,
speed, stroke, pen pressure and timing
information during the act of signing.
In Keystroke Dynamics the manner and
rhythm in which an individual types
characters is analyzed to develop a
unique biometric template of the users
typing pattern for future authentication.
It is used to verify or even try to
determine the identity of the person who
is producing those keystrokes. Facial
recognition system is a computer-driven
application for automatically identifying
or verifying a person from a digital still
or video images by comparing selected
facial features in the live image and a
facial database.Voice recognition is the
process of determining which registered
speaker provides a given utterance or
"voiceprint". Voice or speaker
recognition uses vocal characteristics to
identify individuals using a pass phrase
(password).Iris recognition combines
computer vision, pattern recognition,
statistical inference, and optics. Its
purpose is real-time, high confidence
recognition of a person's identity by
mathematical analysis of the random
patterns that are visible within the iris of
an eye from some distance. Iris scans are
extremely accurate. Retinal scanning
analyses the layer of blood vessels at the
back of the eye.
Retina Scan
It involves using a low-intensity light
source and an optical coupler and can
read the patterns at a great level of
accuracy. It does require the user to
remove glasses, place their eye close to
the device, and focus on a certain point.
Retina scan devices are great long-term,
high-security options.
Emerging Biometric Technologies- An
emerging biometric is in infancy stage of
technological maturation. Once proven,
an emerging biometric will evolve into
an established biometric. Some
examples include Brainwave biometric,
DNA identification, Vascular pattern
recognition, Body Odour recognition,
Fingernail bed recognition, Gait
recognition, Handgrip recognition, Ear
pattern recognition, Body salinity
identification, Infrared fingertip imaging
and pattern recognition.
Brainwave biometric Brainwaves
resolve into nothing more then
recognizable patterns. If we could
identify at least one pattern that was
unique, unchanging, and monotonous,
then we would have a security protocol
of peerless supremacy. Such a solution
could not be stolen or easily duplicated
and could theoretical be applied to all
people, to include mobility challenged
individuals.
Depiction of EEG Brain waveforms
DNA Identification DNA is a unique and
measurable human characteristic that is
accepted by society as absolute evidence
of one’s identity with a near probability
of 99.999% accuracy. Scientists use a
small number of sequences of DNA that
are known to greatly vary among
individuals in order to ascertain the
probability of a match.
Body odor recognition is a contact less
physical biometric that attempts too
confirm a person’s identity by analyzing
the olfactory properties of the human
body scent. Each chemical of the human
scent is extracted by the biometric
system and converted into a unique data
string which is analyzed by sensors.
Gait Recognition Is a behavior biometric
that attempts to recognize people by the
manner in which they walk and/or run.
Gait recognition or gait signature as it is
sometime referred to; it uses a radar
system to capture the subject in motion.
Georgia Tech Research Institute are
building a new radar system that can
identify people from up to 500 feet away
during the day, night, and all-weather
conditions. Handgrip Recognition
Advanced Biometrics Incorporated
invented this technology, with hope of it
one day being used to prevent
unauthorized use of handguns. It is the
hope of handgun manufactures to create
a smart handgun that will only recognize
authorized users. Handgrip technology
focuses on the internal part of the hand
by analyzing the unique subcutaneous
tissues, blood vessel patterns, veins,
arteries and fatty tissues of a hand in a
gripped position.
Vascular patterns: are best described as
a picture of the veins in a person's hand
or face. The thickness and location of
these veins are believed to be unique
enough to an individual to be used to
verify a person's identity.
Vein scanners use near-infrared light
to reveal the patterns in a person’s veins.
Ear Pattern Recognition The shape of
the outer ear, lobes, bone structure and
the size are unique to each person. Ear
pattern recognition is employed as a
physical Contactless biometric and uses
an Optophone to verify the shape of the
ear. A French company, ART
Techniques, developed the Optophone
and the process. It is a telephone type
handset, which is comprised of two
components (lighting source and
cameras).Body salinity biometric an
individual’s salinity level of salt in the
body is believed to be unique. This
technology passing a tiny electrical
current through the body in order to
analysis the salt content. The more salt
in the body, the more conductive the
body becomes to electricity. As the
electrical current passes through the
body it can also carry data at a transfer
rates equivalent to a 2400-baud modem.
This technology could be used to
facilitate communication between cell
phones, watches. Fingernail bed
recognition The system scans the dermal
structure under the fingernails. The
human nail bed is a unique longitudinal
structure that is made up of nearly
parallel rows of vascular rich skin with
parallel dermal structures in between
narrow channel
Magnification of Human Nail Bed
Disadvantages of Biometric Systems:
People with disability may have
problems with contact biometrics.
The truth is that the security codes and
the passwords used in the ATMs, Phone
lock and credit and debit cards are a
supplement to the biometric security
systems. The biometric solutions are
going to play a very big role in near
future. So it is best that one puts in a bit
of an effort to field test the various
biometric solutions.
Biometric Applications: Most biometric
applications fall into one of the nine
general categories:
1. Financial services ( ATM)
2. Immigration and border control
(passport and visa issuance)
3. Social services(fraud detection)
4. Health care
5. Physical access control
6. Time and attendance
7. Computer security (e-commerce)
8. Telecommunications (mobile)
9. Law enforcement (national ID)
Performance Parameters
False accept rate (FAR) or false match
rate (FMR): the probability that the
system incorrectly declares a successful
match between the input pattern and a
non-matching pattern in the database. It
measures the percent of invalid matches.
False reject rate (FRR) or false non-
match rate (FNMR): the probability that
the system incorrectly declares failure of
match between the input pattern and the
matching template in the database. It
measures the percent of valid inputs
being rejected.
Equal error rate (EER): The rates at
which both accept and reject errors are
equal.
Failure to capture rate (FTC): Within
automatic systems, the probability that
the system fails to detect a biometric
characteristic when presented correctly.
Verification: does the template match
the input sample? (A 1:1 match) A pre-
stored template is matched against a
sample directly, e.g. a card or known
database entry.
Identification: what is the input sample?
(A 1: N match) where N is the total
number of entries in the database. It is a
process of identifying from all the
templates which one is the closest match
to the input sample.
Conclusion-
Biometrics can do a lot more than just
determine whether someone has access
to walk through a particular door. Some
hospitals use biometric systems to make
sure mothers take home the right
newborns. Experts have also advised
people to scan their vital documents, like
birth certificates and social security
cards, and store them in biometrically-
secured flash memory in the event of a
national emergency. Here are some
biometric technologies you might see in
the future:
New methods that use DNA, nail bed
structure, teeth, ear shapes, body odor,
skin patterns and blood pulses, More
accurate home-use systems, Opt-in club
memberships, frequent buyer programs
and rapid checkout systems with
biometric security, More prevalent
biometric systems in place of passports
at border crossings and airports.
Nowadays Banks are contemplating
putting Biometric Systems on the ATM
cards to ensure no imposters are able to
withdraw money even after knowing the
password.

A biometric security smart Card

The United Kingdom has already started

the Distribution of Biometric Passports
to prevent forgery and check imposters.
A major use of biometrics can be in
protecting the copyright privileges of
music, movies, and software creators. A
biometric algorithm could be employed
to encrypt and decrypt media stored on a
multitude of mediums (i.e. CD-R/RW,
DVD-R/RW, flash memory). The end
result would be that only the legitimate
owner of might access the work of art.
Think of biometrics as a key! Yes… A
key, it can open doors for you and
provides security to keep others out. It is
a key that can be customized to an
individual’s access needs. You can use a
biometric to access your home, your
account, or to invoke a customized
setting for any secure area /application.

References-
www.biometrics.org
http://www.dodcounterdrug.com/
facialrecognition/
http://www.ins.gov/graphics/lawenfor/
bmgmt/inspect/inspass.htm.