Biometrics are definitely better than passwords when it comes to security, but they aren't fool-proof. Here are the three main reasons biometrics aren't secure.

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The next time you log into your bank account to pay a bill, instead of entering your password, you might have to take a picture of your eye to gain access. Welcome to the world of biometric authentication, where your eyes, ears, and fingerprints are the access code to prove individual identity. Biometric technology will become commonplace sooner rather than later.

Bank of America recently started piloting a biometric system from Samsung that scans the iris to determine person identity. They’re not the only company using biometric security. Wells Fargo and British bank TSB are working on iris scanning for mobile banking as well.

Since Apple introduced biometric identification with the iPhone fingerprint sensor in 2013, businesses have been exploring the technology as a way to finally thwart fraud and remedy widespread cybersecurity problems. But are biometrics really that secure or are organizations opening up a can of worms that can cause more problems?

What Are Biometrics?

Biometric identification is a technology that identifies and authenticates individuals based on physical characteristics. A biometric identification system includes fingerprint identification, iris and retina, facial recognition, gait, or voice. The biometrics market is growing as the technology is being hailed as the new generation of defense for law enforcement against hackers. The biometric market is expected to be worth $32.7 billion by 2022.

Consumer acceptance is helping drive growth. According to a poll by Veridium, 52 percent of consumers want biometric security to replace passwords, and 80 percent believe it’s more secure than passwords. About 40 percent are already using fingerprint reader technology.
Benefits of the technology include:

• It’s faster and more convenient for users (no need to remember passwords)
• Strong authentication since biological characteristics are distinct
• Eliminates friction associated with traditional security measures
• Biometric servers usually require less database memory

Despite the benefits, some flaws still must be addressed. Here are three major issues facing biometric security.

Problem #1: Biometrics aren’t private

Biometrics seem secure on the surface. After all, you’re the only one with your ears, eyes, and fingerprint. But that doesn’t necessarily make it more secure than passwords. A password is inherently private because you are the only one who knows it. Of course hackers can acquire it by brute force attacks or phishing, but generally, people can’t access it. On the other hand, biometrics are inherently public.
Think about it: your ears, eyes, and face are exposed. You reveal your eyes whenever you look at things. With fingerprint recognition you leave fingerprints everywhere you go. With voice recognition, someone is recording your voice. Essentially, there’s easy access to all these identifiers.

Your image is stored in more places than you realize. Not only does Facebook recognize your face, but every store you visit records and saves your image in its database to identify you and analyze your buying habits. In fact, it’s legal in 48 states to use software to identify you using images taken without your consent for commercial purposes. And law enforcement agencies nationwide can store your image without consent.
The problem is identity management and security. Personal identifiable information (PII) needs to have access control in place to protect from identity theft. All it takes is for a hacker to breach any of those databases to leak and steal your biometric identification.

Problem #2:Biometrics Are Hackable

Once a hacker has a picture of someone’s ear, eye, or finger, they can easily gain access to their accounts. While Apple’s TouchID was widely accepted as a biometric advancement, famous hacker Jan Krissler was able to beat the technology just a day after the iPhone was released. Likewise, researchers from the Chaos Computer Club created fake fingers to unlock iPhones.
Krissler showed how easy it is to steal a public figure’s identification when he recreated German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen’s fingerprint. The hacker obtained high-resolution photos of the politician’s thumb from press conferences and reconstructed the thumbprint using VeriFinger software.
If you think an eye scan may be more secure, think again. Hackers fooled the Samsung S8 iris recognition system by placing a contact lens over a photo of a user’s eye. And it wasn’t a high-priced hack either. The S8 phone was the most expensive purchase of the hack project.

Problem #3: Biometrics Hacks May Have Greater Consequences

Since a biometric reveals part of a user’s identity, if stolen, it can be used to falsify legal documents, passports, or criminal records, which can do more damage than a stolen credit card number.
The Office of Personnel Management breach in 2015 compromised 5.6 million people’s fingerprints. And unlike passwords, credit cards, or other records, you can’t replace physical identifiers. If someone has photos of your iris, you can’t get another eye.
Biometric companies are aware of these flaws in the technology and should aim to improve identification. There are some ways to deter inherent downfalls of biometrics like requiring more than one fingerprint scan to improve accuracy. Bank of America said its iris scan will be a part of multi-factor authentication instead of the sole way to access accounts.
Biometrics may be the security measure of the future, but it isn’t time to discard your passwords yet. Biometrics provide another level of security, but it’s not foolproof.

Have you ever watched an action movie and wished you could drive a futuristic car with all the awesome technology the hero uses to outwit the bad guys? Thanks to emerging trends in biometrics, your dream may become a reality sooner than you think. At this very moment, manufacturers around the world are developing ways to make biometric technology a standard in cars.

A Quick Guide to Biometrics

Biometric technology involves the use of unique human features to set individuals apart. Most people recognize biometrics from movies or TV shows where characters gain access to secure rooms via retina scans or unlock secret devices using fingerprints. In the real world, biometric technology is already utilized to control access in computer science environments and increase security in surveillance operations.

Photo by Cpl. Spencer M. Murphy, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE / CC0 1.0.

Every person has multiple distinctive identifiers useable in biometric technology. Current markers include:

• Fingerprints
• Palm prints
• Hand geometry
• Retina and iris recognition
• DNA
• Facial recognition

Since these particular traits are difficult or impossible to duplicate, they have multiple benefits when used in biometric technology.

Biometrics is Used Across Various Fields Today: From Security to Fitness Trackers

Outside of the movie theater, you can see biometrics at work simply by browsing smartphone models sporting fingerprint scanners meant to prevent unauthorized access.

Security checkpoints at airports and other areas with restricted access are more reliable when biometrics enter the picture.

These days, you can even protect your valuables using biometric locks and secure your financial information with biometric markers.

Healthcare also benefits from biometrics – they use it to access patient records, hastening access to valuable information in situations where delays could mean the difference between life and death.

Biometrics in law enforcement make it easier to increase security on every level and identify, track and apprehend criminals. Even employers are getting in on the biometrics game by using employee characteristics to track time and attendance.

Probablythe most popular application of biometrics in the current market is for fitness tracking. Today’s fitness wristbands and chest straps do much more than tell you your heart rate or estimate how many calories you burn. Some are designed for endurance training to show you how long you spend in a particular “zone;” others provide readouts relating to muscle strength used and reps performed in weight training, and some even tell you when your form starts to suffer.

The most interesting use of biometrics we might be seeing really soon is in cars. Using a biometric car starter or a biometric car lock might become a standard sooner than you think. And that might just be the beginning of the story.

Automotive Biometrics: Coming Soon to a Car Near You

The research and development centers of many popular car manufacturers are buzzing with ideas of how to integrate biometrics into the driving experience. At the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Mitsubishi introduced the EMIRAI concept, a biometric car capable of controlling everything from vehicle access to dashboard settings. In the near future, biometric markers such as fingerprints, body scans and facial recognition may be used to “lock down” certain vehicle features when anyone other than the authorized driver climbs in.

Ford is working on a marriage between smart watches and vehicle systems to monitor drivers’ health and implement potentially life-saving assistance in the event of drowsiness or medical emergencies. The same metrics could benefit the racing industry by allowing teams to track the heart rates and other important health markers of their drivers and intervene should something go wrong.

Automotive Biometrics: Practical, Distracting or a Waste?

Given the association of biometrics with movies where car chases and explosions dominate the screen, it may seem like including such technology in cars is a waste of time and money. However, the rise of all things “smart” opens up a wealth of possibilities for tech-savvy car owners:

• Personalization taken to a whole new level – After reading your biometrics, a car could automatically adjust everything from seats and mirrors to music and GPS according to custom specifications.
• Improved Focus and Minimal Distraction – Since the car “knows” who you are, many features currently requiring manual adjustment could be automated, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road and your mind on driving.
• Better Security – A system requiring biometrics to enter or start the car would stop potential thieves in their tracks.
• Peace of Mind – By observing your heart rate, blood pressure and other vital signs, car systems could tell if you’re impaired in any way and prevent accidents by engaging automatic assistance and alerting the proper emergency services.

A Period of Adjustment: Why Consumers Might Think Twice Before Embracing Biometric Tech in Cars

Photo by U.S. Customs and Border Protection / CC0 1.0.

As with any new technology, not every aspect of automotive biometrics is going to be perfect from the start. One of the biggest potential concerns is that of driver safety. The same measures meant to keep the wrong person from operating a vehicle could make it impossible for a friend or family member to take over driving in an emergency situation. Some form of “emergency contact” system would need to be developed to allow specific individuals access in case the regular driver became incapacitated.

It’s also possible that the built-in override features designed for helping ailing drivers could kick in at inappropriate times, creating potentially dangerous situations. An accident is much more likely should an automatic system engage while the car is traveling along a crowded highway or on an unpredictable road. The same is true in situations where something is wrong with the driver and the system fails to recognize the signs.

Even with the popularity of device integration and “smart” technologies, these and other potential drawbacks could make consumers wary of embracing automotive biometrics. Manufacturers will have to identify and address possible problems as new systems develop to make features more appealing and accessible to the average driver.

Biometrics in Cars to Become the Next Big Thing

Biometrics is set to become the next big innovation in automotive technology. With potential benefits for security, safety, personalization and much more, this emerging trend has a lot to offer everyone.

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What do you think of automotive biometrics? Would you want a car outfitted with this futuristic technology, or do you prefer more traditional automotive features?