Biometrics is a set of methods related to unique identification of people based on physiological or behavioural traits
15
votes
12answers
2k views
Why do we even use passwords / passphrases next to biometrics?
In the last couple of days there were a lot of talking about passwords and passphrases, not only here, but on several blogs and forums I follow (especially after XKCD #936 saw the light of this ...
11
votes
2answers
617 views
Biometric versus other Two Factor Authentication Mechanisms
Over the years biometrics is the go-to movie authentication mechanism, but in the real world I'm getting conflicting opinions about it. Everything I've learned shows that biometrics are flawed ...
9
votes
5answers
519 views
Non-OEM Biometric Software?
Most of us with fingerprint readers and such devices probably use the software provided by the vendor, to enable biometric OS login or single sign-on functionality. However, I've recently wondered if ...
5
votes
1answer
379 views
False negative in biometrics
In biometric systems preventing false positive is usually far more important than preventing false negatives. In what situations can false negatives be more serious than false positives?
5
votes
1answer
231 views
What are formal parameters for fingerprint scanner selection?
I would like to buy a USB fingerprint scanner. I intend to use it to log in into my Windows computer, to secure RoboForm password manager, and generally to replace password entry with a quick finger ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Are fingerprint scanners easy to bypass?
Thinking about adding a fingerprint based authentication layer, but then I recalled the MythBusters beat fingerprint security system episode -- is this a common issue, and if not, how do you tell if a ...
4
votes
1answer
138 views
Web-browser based biometrics?
Is there any practice of using biometric mechanisms online - for example, for visual identification via webcam to identify audio-visually the person speaking, or, performing biometric analysis on ...
3
votes
7answers
437 views
Biometric authentication in the real world
can anyone give a realistic estimation, based on real-world experience, of how much biometric authentication techniques are being used in the IT field?
2
votes
3answers
116 views
How important is user acceptance when deciding whether to deploy biometric authentication?
I've been browsing through several studies on user acceptance of biometrics, and I've been noticing that they all focus on attitudes and beliefs about biometrics. While it's important to know a ...
1
vote
2answers
99 views
Can a biometric device serve as a user based entropy source?
I am wondering if a biometric device can be used to generate some entropy or key material that would be stable across each authentication.
The contrary would be for biometric devices to act like an ...
0
votes
0answers
235 views
Is there software available for two-factor, biometric authentication to the OS?
Many fingerprint readers and other biometric authentication devices come with software for single-factor authentication to the OS. Is there any third-party software (F/OSS or otherwise) available for ...
