Many software vendors and services have not only begun to encourage multifactor authentication but enforce it. Textual input is the most common form, but the finite number of characters, ASCII or otherwise, still limits organizations.  

Identity-based authentication that uses biometrics is a potentially more reliable solution. In fact, it can be added as an additional MFA measure, allowing you to bolster your online account security. But why isn’t biometric authentication more popular? What challenges have been overcome recently to make it more accessible? The following guide will answer these questions and explore how biometric authentication can help more users stay safe on the internet. 

What is Biometric Authentication?

Biometric authentication refers to any form of verification that uses a biological or physical attribute. The most common types include face, voice, finger and/or palm print and eye (retina). Most mid-to-high-end mobile phone users have had some form of biometric authentication to secure their devices for years. Samsung’s in-display fingerprint scanner and Apple’s Face ID come to mind. 

Biometrics have also been used by law enforcement to help them find and identify suspects using not just facial recognition but other physical traits such as height, body shape, gait, etc.  

But more relevantly, software providers, particularly those in the financial sector, have begun to embrace facial recognition software as a means to shore up the security of online accounts. Why now, though? 

Biometric Authentication: Why Now?

Biometric authentication has been around for ages (at least as a concept), dating back to 500 BC Babylonia. In pop culture, it’s typically used as part of a recurring trope in sci-fi (The ‘borrowed biometric bypass‘). 

However, many recent technological advancements have essentially been sci-fi brought to life. In software and integrated technology, these innovations have been accelerated and made possible by AI. While we have the capabilities to harness biometric data, we’re only scratching the surface of what it truly means to process it.  

Biometrics and AI

In the domain of digital security, artificial intelligence plays a critical role, not only in areas like threat detection but also in enhancing biometric authentication methods. For instance, AI in cloud computing environments has been instrumental in fortifying security measures, especially for engineers requiring server access.

By integrating AI-driven biometric systems, cloud platforms are ensuring that only verified engineers can gain access to sensitive servers. These advanced algorithms, designed to learn and adapt, scrutinize biological traits such as fingerprints or iris patterns with unparalleled accuracy and prompting verification at key points of each process.  

But how does this stand to benefit everyday consumers? One example is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which, through its partnership with Delta Airlines, established the first curb-to-gate biometric terminal. Passengers can check in using facial recognition at their self-service kiosks, tag and drop their luggage and board their flights using an automated checkpoint system that leverages biometrics and AI. 

Tackling the Financial Aspect

In today’s digital landscape, robust document management is essential for both personal and organizational security. While everyday tools like CRM software, email apps and even document editors offer a range of features like encryption and secure sharing options, coupling them with biometric authentication can provide an additional layer of assurance. 

By doing so, users can create a more secure and streamlined workflow, where access to critical documents is granted only after verifying one’s unique biological traits, such as fingerprint or facial recognition. 

This integration of software and biometric security measures establishes a more holistic approach to safeguarding sensitive information and could do wonders for financial institutions that rely on secure online accounts to operate. 

Imagine a client wanting to close a 10-figure deal with a large bank. Instead of sending documents via email, they can put a biometric lock on the files so that only the bank’s upper management can access them. 

Not Just Skin Deep

Palm vein identification involves using infrared scanners to reveal and capture the vein patterns of users. Researchers and scientists have also begun developing technology that can identify individuals based on their heartbeats and brain waves.

In addition to their practicality and convenience, one of the greatest benefits of biometrics is that they are nearly impossible to replicate. Despite there being more than eight billion people in the world (and counting), no two people have identical palm prints.

However, as with most things, biometric systems do have weaknesses, especially when they are implemented poorly.         

The Pitfalls of Biometric Authentication

Password and passkey systems are far cheaper and easier to implement than biometric ones. This is one of the reasons we haven’t seen a wider embrace of biometric solutions by organizations. And it’s going to take time before this happens. Likewise, the accuracy of a biometric system only goes as far as the quantity and quality of the scanners. Hence, older and cheaper biometric models relied on partial matches because they simply didn’t have the technological capabilities to capture entire profiles. For instance, it may only capture and save certain attributes related to your facial structure (for face scans), or it will use partial fingerprint data for validation. 

While your physical traits may not be replicable, the data connected to them is. As with passwords and other personal data, biometric data is captured, saved and encrypted (or at least it should be). Not so long ago, a group of Israeli hackers managed to expose that the Israeli government had been illegally and unethically sharing biometric data between agencies.

The Future of Biometric Authentication

So we’ve covered some obvious examples where biometric authentication and systems are used. But how about areas and situations unbeknownst to us? Biometric identification is far more ubiquitous than most people are aware of.

It’s used in CCTV cameras. For instance, there are roughly 940,000 CCTV cameras in London. Londoners are likely to be caught on camera at least 70 times daily. Hence, it’s been dubbed Europe’s CCTV capital. 

But don’t forget that this technology can be used against you, too. This is where your digital identity and interactions can have real-world consequences. Of course, the ethics of doxxing should be considered, as well as how easy it is to find information on someone using just their likeness. 

Cancelable Biometrics

One way security development firms have sought to address the privacy issue is through cancelable biometrics. Cancelable biometric data is encrypted before it’s stored. For instance, face scanners won’t store the image of your actual face but a distorted version of it.

If hackers found a way to compromise the system, it would not be impossible to identify you. And you can easily delete your data and set a new biometric password (your face is distorted differently). 

Behavioral Biometrics

Smartphones and smartwatches can analyze how we type or how we walk (gait, stride length, hip movement, etc.). Biometric software can then use this information to create a movement profile, which can then be used to authenticate us. 

Imagine a system that will analyze how you’ve entered your password in addition to the correctness of your password. And that’s precisely what behavioral biometrics are—studying your movement patterns to build a trust level. Because people change because of growth or injuries, we won’t always behave consistently. But there are patterns that we still maintain.

In an office or physical setting, your movement patterns and behaviors are registered on your smartphone, not the system itself. Only the score is shared with the service provider. Eventually, you’ll be able to connect your behavioral biometric trust score to your online accounts. It will work like a one-time password (OTP) or authenticator application. 

Conclusion

As a rule of thumb, the more elaborate the security method, the better. As such, pairing multifactor authentication with biometric systems with high-quality sensors has been proven to be one of the best security solutions for online accounts. The only hurdle is cost. As the technology becomes more affordable and the main problems are solved, it will be more accessible to more users, resulting in online practice seeping into the real world.