BIOMETRICS

Biometrics: the Solution to Identity Fraud

Biometrics: The Solution to Identity Fraud

Introduction

A new generation of electronic identity documents emerged in Western countries. Some include biometric data in order to ensure better control of the identity of the holder. Other features include authentication and electronic signature to promote the development of administration and e-commerce. To the extent that they are likely to lead to automatic processing of personal data, their development potential to be surrounded by safeguards protecting individual liberties (Wayman, 2004).

Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Organization of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), European Union, Switzerland and many states, first and foremost the United States, have decided to include in the secure passport chips with biometric data scanned, including photography, to positively identify the holder and fight against fraud and document that promotes illegal immigration, organized crime and terrorist activities. Biometric technologies open up new possibilities. Controversial issue, biometrics, however, is already a reality. It is necessary already to be a strong instrument for securing documents. However, the gain in terms of safety is not well evaluated. Biometrics is not a panacea; its effectiveness depends on many factors. There are a number of questions in this regard, that are required to be elaborated. For instance:

Are biometric safe to use?

Can a biometric be reconstructed from a template?

What happens when a biometric is compromised or stolen?

What are the solutions to identify fraud in the United States?

Discussion

Are Biometric Safe To Use?

Biometrics has a major drawback, unfortunately, because none of the measures used does turns out to be completely accurate because it is indeed a major feature of any living organism: it adapts to the environment, aging, it suffers injuries more or less important, in short it is changing and changing measures.

Consider the simplest case, the fingerprints (but note that the same applies to any given physical). Depending on the case, we present more or less sweating finger temperature is anything but regular (on average, 8 to 10 degrees Celsius above the ambient temperature) (Bolle, 2003). Simply cut to present an anomaly in the design of fingerprints. In short, in most cases, the measure will return a different result from the initial baseline measurement. However, it must nevertheless do well to be recognized, and in fact it will work in most cases because the system allows a margin of error between measurement and reference.

Biometric authentication is the first capture of a biometric characteristic of a person in advance by means of optical, thermal, chemosensory, auditory or pressure-sensitive method for later comparison purposes. From the raw data collected by means of appropriate algorithms is known as a template (pattern) and calculated as a centralized or decentralized biometric reference in a Enrolment record for future reference (e.g. on a smart card) is stored. It is important to ensure that a reconstruction of the biometric characteristic by recalculation is excluded from the template (Ashbourn, 2003).

Can A Biometric Be Reconstructed From A Template?

During the actual authentication process is recorded with the same acquisition systems, the biometric characteristic and also calculated using the same algorithms suitable for the ...