How Can a Fingerprint-Based Authentication System Ensure a Safe Transaction?

Protection is crucial in today’s connected society. As the quantity of digital exchanges rises exponentially, so does the need of keeping them safe. Although passwords and PINs are still widely used for authentication, they are susceptible to hackers and phishing assaults.

When compared to other authentication methods, biometrics is safer and more secure. Using a person’s fingerprints, a photograph of their face, or even their voice, biometric authentication may be used to confirm their identification. The necessity for a password or PIN is eliminated with biometric authentication, and the user’s identification may be checked instantly.

Types of Authentication Methods

Biometric authentication is a method of user verification in cyber security that makes use of a person’s identifying biological characteristics, such as their fingerprints, voice, retina, or facial features. When a user logs in, their biometric authentication system checks their stored data to ensure they are who they say they are. When compared to more conventional methods of multi-factor authentication, this one is generally the safest.

Authentication Methods and Their Varieties

Some of the biometric authentication technologies listed below are ones you may use on a regular basis; others are typical authentication methods used for network security to foil thieves.

1. Facial recognition: 

These methods rely on a person’s distinctive facial characteristics to verify their identity. It finds use in a wide range of settings, including cellphones, electronic payments, and law enforcement.

Fingerprint Authentication: A person’s fingerprints are used to confirm their identification. It is the most widely adopted method of biometric identification due to its versatility in protecting a wide range of devices, from mobile phones to cars to buildings.

2. Face Authentication: 

Iris and retina patterns are used for biometric identification in eye recognition systems. This kind of biometric identification is less prevalent than others since it is more difficult to install. Accurate iris scanning calls for a dark room, an infrared camera, and no ambient light pollution. Even though it has certain drawbacks, under the right circumstances it is one of the most reliable methods of biometric authentication now in use. Eye recognition systems are typically implemented in high-security environments like nuclear research labs, etc.

3. Voice Recognition:

Voice recognition technology verifies the speaker by analyzing their distinctive vocal tones, pitches, and frequencies. When calling a service center for help with a product or service (like online banking), this is the biometric used for verification more often than any other.

4. Retina/Iris Recognition:

 An individual’s retinal or iris pattern is used for identification purposes. Due to the complexity involved, this kind of biometric identification is rarely used. Infrared lighting, an IR-capable camera, and low levels of ambient light pollution are essential for successful deployment. However, under the right circumstances, it ranks among the most reliable types of biometric authentication. Therefore, it is usually employed in settings where security is paramount (such as nuclear research facilities).

5. Gait Recognition: 

The manner in which a person walks can be used as a kind of authentication. Because everyone walks a bit differently, seeing how someone moves their feet is a good approach to establish their identity. It is not widely used for authentication at the moment, but that is anticipated to change as other authentication methods gain traction.

6. Vein Recognition: 

An individual’s unique vein pattern in their hand or finger might be used for identification purposes. Infrared light is used to create a map of the veins just under the surface of your hand or finger for biometric identification. Recognition of veins is even more precise than that of the eye’s retina or iris.

Biometric authentication using fingerprints

Financial organizations may benefit from fingerprint security on a whole new level. The advantages it offers are as follows:

Reducing the impact of external fraud:

When an account holder’s identity cannot be reliably confirmed, it leaves the account vulnerable to fraud from the outside. Banks cannot prevent external fraud by checking the customer’s account history.

However, this may be accomplished in a matter of seconds using fingerprint authentication. The fingerprinting systems quickly amass all of the information and send it to a central server. As a protection, fingerprint systems stop any and all “shallow copies.”

Lower the number of in-house scams:

When it comes to safety, the comprehensive audit trail created by the fingerprint authentication method is invaluable. A system for recording business and other activity transactions is being built here.

In the event of a lawsuit or legal action brought by such a firm employee disputing the transaction, this technique can aid in immediately reducing the likelihood of litigation expenditures. as a result, internal fraud is reduced.

Secure authentication:

The authentication process is quick and easy for the client. Therefore, it is in the interest of any business to prove their legitimacy. Using a fingerprint authentication method, this may be accomplished in a matter of seconds.

Traditional security measures like photo identification and other verification steps are time-consuming and might lead to fraudulent transactions if the bank uses them. However, fingerprint verification is not only accurate, but also quick.

Biometric Authentication Use Cases

Healthcare:

In order to keep track of its patients and avoid any confusion, healthcare hospitals rely heavily on biometric authentication. Biometric authentication is commonly used in medical facilities to ensure the privacy of its patients. Using biometrics for verification, medical facilities now have 24/7 access to patient records.

Travel:

Similar to how conventional passports save biometric data, an electronic passport stores this data on a microchip. A digital photograph of the passport holder is stored on the chip and is associated with the bearer’s name and other identifying details. Before granting an e-passport, the issuing nation verifies the applicant’s identification with fingerprints or other biometric information and compares the results to the information stored on a computer chip.

Law Enforcement:

Various forms of biometric information are used by law enforcement to verify identities. Various biometric identifiers such as fingerprints, faces, irises, voices, and DNA are used by state and federal entities. This facilitates their rapid and easy access to sensitive data. For most fingerprint comparisons, law enforcement agencies rely on the expertise of a human examiner. A fingerprint may now be matched against a database of millions of prints in a couple of minutes using AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System).

Conclusion

When safeguards are in place to stop fraudulent activity, online purchases may be made with complete confidence. With the right fingerprint-based biometric solution in place, online transactions may be made much more secure. Biometric technologies are used by banks to ensure that account holders are who they say they are. If you need a reliable financial security system, we can install one for you.