Information Security: Biometric Authentication

This research report provides an overview of biometric authentication and its technologies, applications, challenges, and future research directions. The report identifies gaps and provides solutions for the identified issues. The technologies discussed include fingerprint recognition, retina scanning, iris recognition, voice recognition, and face recognition. The challenges identified include data integrity, requirement of extra hardware, high cost, and inability to update data. The gaps identified include lack of trustworthiness, lack of threat analysis, and complexity of hardware implementation. Future research directions include the use of Internet of Things technology to mitigate the identified gaps.

Running head: BIOMETRIC AUTHENTICATION
Information Security: Biometric Authentication
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Abstract
The major objective of this research report is to learn about biometric authentication and
various technologies as well as applications of it. The various systems of biometric
authentication majorly compare the captured biometric data with the confirmed or stored data
within the database. When both of these samples match with each other, the person is termed
as authenticated. The person’s data are being compared to that person’s biometric template
for simply determining resemblance. The specific reference model is at first stored within the
database or within a secured portable element such as the smart card. This stored data is then
matched with the biometric data that is to be authenticated. Hence, the verification is accurate
and perfect. This report has properly explained the various technologies as well as
applications of biometric. Moreover, gaps are identified here and future research directions
are provided.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................3
2. Discussion..............................................................................................................................3
2.1 Relevant Technologies and Applications of Biometric Authentication...........................3
2.2 Challenges or Problems in Biometric Authentication......................................................6
2.3 Identification of Gaps.......................................................................................................7
2.4 Future Research Directions in Biometric Authentication................................................8
3. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................9
4. References............................................................................................................................10

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1. Introduction
Biometric authentication is the security procedure, which mainly relies on unique
biological features of any specific person for the purpose of verification or unique
identification (De Luca et al., 2015). The biometric authentication is utilized for the
management of accessing the digital and physical resources like rooms, buildings as well as
computing devices. There are various significant technologies of this biometric authentication
and all of them are extremely popular for the users (Bhagavatula et al., 2015). The following
research report outlines a brief description on the biometric authentication and its
technologies. The various challenges or problems with these technologies will be identified in
the report and relevant gaps will be identified. Moreover, the future research directions in
biometric authentication will also be provided here.
2. Discussion
2.1 Relevant Technologies and Applications of Biometric Authentication
Biometric authentication is considered as one of the safest and the most secured
technology for verifying or identifying any specific person (Awasthi & Srivastava, 2013).
There are various important and significant technologies of the biometric authentication
system. These are given below:
i) Fingerprint Recognition System: The first and the foremost technology of
biometric authentication is the fingerprint recognition system (Sayed et al., 2013). It is the
automated methodology to identify or confirm the respective identity of the individual based
on the basic comparison of any two fingerprints. This is the most utilized biometric solution
for the authentication purpose.

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ii) Retina Scanning: The second popular technology of biometric authentication is
the retina scanning (Klonovs et al., 2013). This eventually produces the significant image of
blood vessel patterns within the light sensitive surface that is lining the inner eye of the
person. The human retina is the thin tissue that is composed of the neural cells, located on the
posterior portions of the specific eyes. Each and every individual’s retina is different or
unique and this is because of the complex structure of capillaries, which supply retina with
blood (Bhatt & Santhanam, 2013). Hence, it is nearly impossible to get forged or fake data
from this scanning.
iii) Iris Recognition System: The third significant technology of this biometric
authentication is the iris recognition system (Abo-Zahhad, Ahmed & Abbas, 2014). It is the
automatic methodology of biometric identification, which utilizes a mathematical pattern
recognition technique on the video images of any one or even both the irises of any person,
where the complex patterns are absolutely unique and stable. This type of biometric system
uses the technology of video camera with subtle near the infrared illumination for acquiring
images of the iris structures (Chen, Pande & Mohapatra, 2014).These are mostly used in the
security offices or banks.
iv) Voice Recognition: Another important and significant technology of biometric
authentication is voice recognition system (Nandi et al., 2014). This is the core ability of any
program or machine for receiving as well as interpreting dictation or even for understanding
or carrying out the spoken commands. These systems allow the users for interacting with the
technology by only taking with it and hence enabling hands free reminders and requests
(Peng et al., 2014). The most popular example of this biometric authentication technology is
Siri from Apple.

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v) Face Recognition: This is the fifth famous technology of biometric authentication
(Roth et al., 2013). This particular system has the capability for verifying or identifying the
individual from either a digital image or from the video frame or source. There are various
techniques where the facial recognition systems could work easily; however, in general the
chosen facial features are being compared from the provided images in the database. The face
recognition system is completely on the basis of the presence of artificial intelligence in it
(Sizov, Lee & Kinnunen, 2014). This system is utilized within the security systems and hence
could be compared to all other biometrics like iris recognition and fingerprint recognition.
There are several important applications of these biometric technologies. The
applications are as follows:
i) Identification or Verification of Individual: The most important application of this
technology is to identify or verify any specific individual. The criminal investigation is
completely dependent on these types of technologies in the entire world (Murillo-Escobar et
al., 2015). Previously this was based on paper or labours; however, with the advancement of
this technology, people have successfully identified the criminals, without any type of issues.
ii) Duplicate Checking: The next application of biometric authentication technologies
is the duplicate checking. The fake or the forged data is being checked and eradicated with
the help of this technology and the authorized person is being identified (Fong, Zhuang &
Fister, 2013). The security of the physical assets or resources is also maintained easily or
promptly with these technologies.
iii) Eradication of Fake Data: Another important application of the biometric
authentication technologies is the eradication or elimination of fake data (De Luca et al.,
2015). Since, biometric characteristics or features are being identified, there is almost no

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chance of fake data and only accurate data is identified. This also ensures that the fake data is
not present within the data at all.
2.2 Challenges or Problems in Biometric Authentication
There are some of the major challenges or problems within the technologies of
biometric authentication and they are as follows:
i) Data Integrity: For some of the popular technologies of biometric authentication,
there is a high chance the data loses the confidentiality or integrity. The fingerprint
recognition system is one of them (Bhagavatula et al., 2015). Often, the data is not 100%
accurate and thus the user faces major issues. Since, these types of systems are mostly being
utilized in schools, colleges and offices, the employees or the students get the chance to forge
the data and the management gets into trouble.
ii) Requirement of Extra Hardware: The next significant challenge in biometric
authentication systems is that each and every system requires the implementation of an extra
hardware (Awasthi & Srivastava, 2013). Without this hardware, it is not possible to use these
systems at any cost. This increases complexity to a major level. Hence, this is often avoided
by various schools, colleges and offices.
iii) Highly Expensive: Another popular challenge with the biometric authentication
system is that it is extremely costly. Due to the requirement of extra hardware and equipment,
the overall expenses are huge and hence it often becomes a major problem to afford them
(Sayed et al., 2013). Only the larger or the medium sized organizations could afford these
types of technologies.
iv) Updates Not Possible: The significant challenge with the biometric authentication
technology is that updates of the data are not possible and hence data could not be altered at

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all (Bhatt & Santhanam, 2013). The fingerprint, iris or the voice of the individual could not
be revoked under any circumstance and hence data theft is possible here.
2.3 Identification of Gaps
Although, biometric authentication is extremely popular and important for the users,
there are certain gaps that are to be identified for providing better solutions to the users (Abo-
Zahhad, Ahmed & Abbas, 2014). The gaps of biometric authentication technologies are as
follows:
i) Lack of Trustworthiness: The most significant gap that is present within the
biometric authentication technology is the lack of trustworthiness (Chen, Pande &
Mohapatra, 2014). This is mainly because of the fake or forged data that is quite common for
some of the biometric systems. This lack of trustworthiness should be mitigated subsequently
to provide proper and accurate data for the users (Sizov, Lee & Kinnunen, 2014). There are
some of the major authentication technologies and these technologies are based on three
distinct factors, which are individual knowledge like passwords, individual possession like
secured token or physical keys and individual doing like biometric technology
implementation. The biometric systems could eventually function without any active input,
users’ knowledge as well as the users’ cooperation (Murillo-Escobar et al., 2015). Due to the
lack of trustworthiness, the recognition is not always utilized by the users.
ii) Lack of Threat Analysis: The second significant gap that is being identified from
the research report is that the biometric authentication technologies do not comprise of the
threat analysis (Fong, Zhuang & Fister, 2013). A proper threat analysis is to be conducted in
this case and then the threat models for the system could be developed. The significant
analysis of the threats is highly needed here; however, the biometric technologies do not
comprise of the threat analysis in any case (Nandi et al., 2014). The feasibility of the threats

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is not present for protecting the resources against any type of issue and thus the problem is to
be understood eventually.
iii) Complexity of Hardware Implementation: The next identified gap in this case is
the complexity of hardware implementation. There is always a requirement of hardware
implementation or hardware installation within the biometric authentication technologies
(Peng et al., 2014). Each and every biometric system requires an additional hardware, which
often becomes complex and problematic for the users. Moreover, testing, designing and
deployment also required with this technique.
2.4 Future Research Directions in Biometric Authentication
The identified gaps often become major issues for the users since they are unable to
solve these issues. However, future research directions are present for these identified gaps.
i) For the first identified gap of the lack of trustworthiness, the device could be
connected to the Internet of Things (Klonovs et al., 2013). The devices would be having huge
memory or processing capabilities and hence, when the devices would be scanning the
biometric data of the intended users, there would not chance of fake or forged data. Hence,
the first gap would be mitigated.
ii) For the second identified gap of lack of threat analysis, in built firewall will be
present. This is extremely important for this issue and hence the threats would not only be
detected but also prevented on time (Sayed et al., 2013). Thus, the next gap will also be
removed.
iii) Finally, for the final gap of hardware complexity implementation, the scientists
have thought of involving Internet of Things technology within the systems (Awasthi &

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Srivastava, 2013). This would have a sensor and hardware will not be involved and thus the
complexity would be removed.
3. Conclusion
Therefore, from the above discussion, it could be concluded that biometric
authentication is being utilized for the core purposes of access control and unique
verification. Few technologies are present for this type of authentication. This type of
verification is extremely vital for the users, since fake or forged data is almost impossible
here. The above research report has clearly identified the relevant technologies and
applications for biometric authentication in current days. The most popular technology is the
fingerprint recognition technology. The various challenges and problems for this technology
are also mentioned here. Moreover, proper gaps are being identified within the research area
after discussing about the issues. Finally, the future research directions on the identified gaps
are also given in this report.

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4. References
Abo-Zahhad, M., Ahmed, S. M., & Abbas, S. N. (2014). Biometric authentication based on
PCG and ECG signals: present status and future directions. Signal, Image and Video
Processing, 8(4), 739-751.
Awasthi, A. K., & Srivastava, K. (2013). A biometric authentication scheme for telecare
medicine information systems with nonce. Journal of medical systems, 37(5), 9964.
Bhagavatula, R., Ur, B., Iacovino, K., Kywe, S. M., Cranor, L. F., & Savvides, M. (2015).
Biometric authentication on iphone and android: Usability, perceptions, and
influences on adoption.
Bhatt, S., & Santhanam, T. (2013, February). Keystroke dynamics for biometric
authentication—A survey. In Pattern Recognition, Informatics and Mobile
Engineering (PRIME), 2013 International Conference on (pp. 17-23). IEEE.
Chen, S., Pande, A., & Mohapatra, P. (2014, June). Sensor-assisted facial recognition: an
enhanced biometric authentication system for smartphones. In Proceedings of the
12th annual international conference on Mobile systems, applications, and
services (pp. 109-122). ACM.
De Luca, A., Hang, A., Von Zezschwitz, E., & Hussmann, H. (2015, April). I feel like I'm
taking selfies all day!: towards understanding biometric authentication on
smartphones. In Proceedings of the 33rd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors
in Computing Systems (pp. 1411-1414). ACM.
Fong, S., Zhuang, Y., & Fister, I. (2013). A biometric authentication model using hand
gesture images. Biomedical engineering online, 12(1), 111.

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Klonovs, J., Petersen, C. K., Olesen, H., & Hammershoj, A. (2013). ID proof on the go:
Development of a mobile EEG-based biometric authentication system. IEEE
Vehicular Technology Magazine, 8(1), 81-89.
Murillo-Escobar, M. A., Cruz-Hernández, C., Abundiz-Pérez, F., & López-Gutiérrez, R. M.
(2015). A robust embedded biometric authentication system based on fingerprint and
chaotic encryption. Expert Systems with Applications, 42(21), 8198-8211.
Nandi, S., Roy, S., Dansana, J., Karaa, W. B. A., Ray, R., Chowdhury, S. R., ... & Dey, N.
(2014). Cellular automata based encrypted ECG-hash code generation: an application
in inter human biometric authentication system. International Journal of Computer
Network and Information Security, 6(11), 1.
Peng, J., El-Latif, A. A. A., Li, Q., & Niu, X. (2014). Multimodal biometric authentication
based on score level fusion of finger biometrics. Optik-International Journal for Light
and Electron Optics, 125(23), 6891-6897.
Roth, J., Liu, X., Ross, A., & Metaxas, D. (2013, June). Biometric authentication via
keystroke sound. In Biometrics (ICB), 2013 International Conference on (pp. 1-8).
IEEE.
Sayed, B., Traore, I., Woungang, I., & Obaidat, M. S. (2013). Biometric authentication using
mouse gesture dynamics. IEEE Systems Journal, 7(2), 262-274.
Sizov, A., Lee, K. A., & Kinnunen, T. (2014, August). Unifying probabilistic linear
discriminant analysis variants in biometric authentication. In Joint IAPR International
Workshops on Statistical Techniques in Pattern Recognition (SPR) and Structural and
Syntactic Pattern Recognition (SSPR) (pp. 464-475). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.