Transcript Biometrics
Biometrics
James Nelson
Overview
Abstract
Introduction
Expository
Fingerprint Scanning
Facial Recognition
Hand Geometry
Vein Pattern Recognition
Iris Scanning
Retina Scanning
Gait Recognition
Voice Recognition
Experiment
Accomplishments,
Redirections & False Starts
How Someone Might
Continue
Conclusion
Abstract
Biometrics is extremely effective in security
applications and is used in multiple instances that
include the government, military and business. It is
also a field that is rapidly growing and expanding.
This project will look at various biometric methods
including iris scanning, retina scanning, hand
geometry, facial geometry, fingerprint scanning and
others to see how they are done, and their general
effectiveness. My hypothesis is that biometrics is the
future of security and that it is coming into the
mainstream where even more people will be able to
take advantage of the technology.
Introduction
Focus on security in technology
Up to this point
“What you know”
Passwords, PINs
“What you have”
Smart Card, Remote
Biometrics is different
“What you are”
Utilizes a physical or behavioral characteristic of a user’s body
for identification
Introduction
With the potential accuracy of these methods,
biometrics should be used in all situations, right?
Not necessarily
Following are descriptions, advantages,
disadvantages and real-life situations for biometrics
A biometric device, the SanDisk Cruzer Profile, will
have its everyday use detailed
Project Goals
Provide an overview of biometric technology
Demonstrate the benefits of biometrics
Make readers aware of the potential pitfalls that can
be caused by biometrics
Evaluate the potential benefit of a biometric device for
Juniata faculty and staff
Fingerprint Scanning
Well known
Based on two assumptions:
Fingerprint details are
permanent
Fingerprints of an individual
are unique
“A fingerprint is made up of a
pattern of ridges and furrows
as well as characteristics
that occur at Minutiae points
(ridge bifurcation or a ridge
ending)” (Beal).
Fingerprint Scanning
Scan the fingerprint of the subject with a built-in
sensor
It may take a picture of the fingerprint, or it may take
points of the fingerprint and store a “template” rather
than the whole fingerprint
Often linked with other authentication methods such
as PINs or Smart Cards
Fingerprint Scanning
Advantages
Template uses little space
Easy registration process
Little interaction needed
Disadvantages
User hesitancy
Dirty, cut fingerprints
Easier to fool
Fingerprint Scanning
Real-World Application
Child Care Facilities and Schools
Access control
Allows staff to do tasks other than door monitoring
Can be used for time accounting
Facial Recognition
Two-Dimensional
System is designed to find close matches to particular facial
features such as eyes, nose, mouth, cheekbones, chin and
forehead. These features are then compared to a database
of static images (Reynolds).
Three-Dimensional
“Technology captures facial images by using a number of
digital cameras positioned around the subject's face or by
using a structured light grid that captures facial-structure
data” (Greenemeier).
Facial Recognition
Advantages
Able to pick out a face in the crowd
When match is made, alert the proper people
Disadvantages
Performance decreases linearly as the enrollment database
size goes up
Two-dimensional easily fooled
“Big Brother”
Facial Recognition
Real-World Application
Tampa Bay Police Department
Airport and Border Security
Hand Geometry
Users align their hand according to guide marks on a
hand geometry reader
The reader then captures a three-dimensional image
of the user’s hand, including the fingers and knuckles
This data is then stored in a template in the system
Hand Geometry
Advantages
Robustly built
Easy to use
20 byte template
Disadvantages
Scanners must be large enough to hold a spread out human
hand
Small amount of data points collected by the scanner can
lead to higher false positives and false negatives than some
other biometric technologies
Hygiene perception
Hand Geometry
Real-World Application
Scott Air Force Base
Access control system
100% uptime
2.7% false negative
0.0% false positive
As good as or better at access control than human security
guards
Allowed guards to tend to other duties
Vein Pattern Recognition
Scanner has a CCD camera built-in, along with LEDs that
project near-infrared waves
“The high absorbance rate of near-infrared wave length of
hemoglobin in the blood vessel enables the finger vein pattern to
be acquired by CCD camera” (Hitachi).
Vein Pattern Recognition
Advantages
Different even for identical twins
Not easily observed
Stable, robust
Disadvantages
Hand deformations
Hygiene perceptions
Vein Pattern Recognition
Real-World Application
Lora SE210 Laptop
Japanese ATMs
Future vehicle door handles
Iris Scanning
The iris, or the colored part of the human eye, has
unique characteristics that make it a viable source for
identification
Many biometric methods are said to have 13 to 60
distinct characteristics, the iris is believed to have 266
unique spots
It is also believed that every iris is unique and stays
the same over time and across environments
Iris Scanning
A user’s iris is photographed with a black and white, highresolution camera
Once the image is collected, analysis and processing of a
connecting tissue in the iris, called the trabecular meshwork
Differentiating characteristics of the iris include ligaments, furrows,
ridges, crypts, rings, corona, and freckles
Create an “optical ‘fingerprint’” (GlobalSecurity.org)
The optical fingerprint is put into a digital form so it can be stored
within a database
Iris Scanning
Advantages
Highly protected, internal organ
Can be imaged from a reasonable distance
High degree of randomness
Disadvantages
Relatively small target
Moving target
Eyelashes, eyelids and lenses can also obscure the iris
Iris Scanning
Real-World Application
Freehold Borough School District in New Jersey
Retina Scanning
Sometimes mistaken for iris scanning, but has
nothing to do with the iris
The retina is the patterns of blood vessels on the thin
nerve at the back of the eyeball that processes light
entering the pupil
The idea that retinal patterns could be used as
unique identifiers was brought up in research during
the 1930’s
Even with this knowledge, the first retinal scanner
was not commercially produced until 1984
Eyedentification 7.5
Retina Scanning
During a retinal scan, a user brings their eye very
close to the lens of the camera being used for the
scanning
Must look directly into the lens
Enrollment can also take up to a minute or more
Must be scanned every time for authentication
Retina Scanning
Advantages
Highly accurate
Patterns remain stable
If killed for their retina patterns, a deceased person’s retina
deteriorates too quickly to be of any use to an attacker
No known way to duplicate a retina
Disadvantages
Diseases such as glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure,
and Autoimmune Deficiency Syndrome can affect retina
patterns
Demanding enrollment process
Retina Scanning
Real-World Application
Nuclear Power Plants
Missile Silos
Other high security installations
Gait Recognition
First method
The first method uses a radar system, very similar to the kind that is
used by police officers trying to catch speeders on highways.
This looks at the “gait cycle” that is formed by a person’s
movements over time (Cristol).
As a person’s upper and lower leg, knee, and foot move while
walking, the radar is keeping track of the continuous cycle of
movement.
This creates the “gait cycle.”
Second method
Measure static characteristics such as a person’s leg length
Can be viewed from many angles
Gait Recognition
Advantages
In an ideal state, it would be able to identify subjects up to
500 feet away, under any conditions
Can be coupled with other biometrics
Non-intrusive
Disadvantages
Public perception of bringing together facial recognition and
gait recognition technology, creating a “24/7 human
identification system” (Koerner)
Not fully reliable
Gait Recognition
Real-World Application
None found
Attribute this to the unreliable nature of the technology
Most information pointed to a potential commercial
availability time of 2008
Voice Recognition
May be confused with speech recognition, but they
are not the same
Speech recognition technology is used to convert
spoken words into text
Voice recognition takes the unique sound of a voice
and matches it to a particular person, authenticating
that person for entry into a system (Briggs)
Voice Recognition
Users are usually made to speak a short pass phrase
“It also could be a set of phrases spoken to a challenge or
prompt, such as ‘What is the name of your favorite pet?’”
(Briggs)
If it's responding correctly, the technology will attempt to match
your utterance's timbre and pattern of speech against the
pattern stored in the system in digital form
This comparison is used to create a mathematical score using
algorithms to tell if there is a high confidence or low confidence
in the authenticity of the user’s voice
Voice Recognition
Advantages
Hands-free
Ability to be mobile
Disadvantages
Need relatively quiet environment
Distance between device and user
Voice Recognition
Real-World Application
University of California Davis Medical Center
Experiment
SanDisk Cruzer Profile 512 MB USB Flash Drive
Information about the device can be found at SanDisk.com
Purchased from NewEgg.com
If the Cruzer was successful during testing, it could be
implemented as a secure way to transfer more sensitive files for
faculty and staff across campus, or to and from their homes
Experiment
First Plugin
Enrollment Tutorial
Fingerprint Enrollment
Two drives appear in My Computer
System tray icon appears
User can now use the drive at any computer
Profile program is contained on USB drive
Window will pop up asking to open the drive through
the Profile program
Swipe finger and access is obtained
Experiment
CruzerPass
Login storage for web sites
Only works with IE
CruzerLogin
For logging in to Windows machines
Program must be installed on computer
Experiment
Trying to “break” the scanner
Dirty fingerprints
Wet fingerprints
Daily wear and tear
Recommendation
Could be an excellent product for a number of faculty and
staff on campus
Accomplishments, Redirections and
False Starts
Accomplished my project goals
Redirections
New expository format
Explanation
Pros
Cons
Real-World Application
Second-half schedule
False starts
Removed DNA Scanning and societal impact sections
How Someone Might Continue
DNA Scanning
Fingerprint reader and timekeeping software
Conclusion
Biometric methods are the future
Security is about striking balances
All security methods will have issues
Education on biometric methods is key
Be ready to see biometrics, as it may usher in a new
era for technology