Our world has become increasingly interconnected. An average consumer has access to products and services from all over the globe. So, it makes sense that businesses want to verify who they are dealing with. 

This is where extensive identity verification methods come in place. For transactions that have a high level of risk, document-centric methods of ID verification are preferred by businesses. 

But not just document verification, businesses globally are also adopting biometric verification. Our biometric data, our face, fingerprints, eyes, and voice are all a part of authenticating who we are.

What is Biometric Authentication?

There are different types of biometric authentication. They are one of the best methods of proving who we are. Businesses use these unique characteristics to verify the identity of their customers and prevent identity fraud.

Biometric authentication is a common method for device security, approving financial transactions, patient identification, and much more. 

Biometric verification works by comparing the digital representation of a physical or behavioral feature with previously recorded data. 

Biometric systems have to have a certain level of accuracy, speed, general acceptability, and security measures to prevent fraudulent attacks.

Advantages of Biometric Authentication

Now that you know how biometric authentication works and how widely it is used, let’s go over some examples of biometric authentication.

1. Biometric Authentication is Fast and Convenient

Different biometric authentication have different speeds. Some solutions can verify identities in a matter of seconds, offering a seamless defense against ID fraud.

The best part? There’s no need for PINs, passwords, or KBA questions. There’s no need for a user to jog their memory every time they want to log into an account, approve a transaction, or anything else.

2. Biometrics Offer Incredible Security

The reason biometric authentication is becoming so famous is that they’re more susceptible to hacks. Unlike KBA, getting hands-on biometric authentication data is incredibly tough. 

Mass-level cyber-attacks and large-scale data breaches don’t have the same threat level to biometric data.

Trying to imitate a person’s physical features requires sophisticated technologies, camera sensors, and more, which is too much effort for an average hacker.

3. Hard to Fake Genuine Presence

Another reason why more and more businesses are adopting biometric authentication as their primary defense against fraud is that it is hard to fake a genuine presence.

For biometric authentication, a genuine presence is needed. For a person to be authenticated, there needs to be a physical person present. You can compare it to the immigration process.

US National Institute of Standards in Technology judges and grades liveness detection technology to make sure they’re able to withstand fraud attacks.

By combining biometric authentication with liveness detection, businesses can build a nearly impossible system to break into. 

Disadvantages of Biometric Authentication

But biometric verification isn’t perfect. There are some drawbacks of biometric authentication, which makes it harder to choose.

1. False Biometric Matches Can Occur

False matches can happen when a biometric solution confuses the data of two different individuals. While it is a rare situation, this can happen in the case of twins or similar-looking siblings.

It can also be that the biometric reader is calibrated in the wrong way, malfunctioning, or that the database used for comparison has incorrect information.

To minimize the false acceptance rate, biometric authentication systems should have the right high-quality biometric samples.

2. Rejecting Legit Data

Sometimes, biometric solutions reject legitimate users as well. This happens when an individual’s biometric information changes over time. Let’s say a person’s fingerprint has worn out with age or due to rigorous handiwork. In the case of facial recognition, a change in facial features can also lead to legitimate users being rejected.

Poor image capture can also cause blurred images, which can ultimately lead to fake rejections. 

3. Biometric Bias Can Happen

Biometric authentication is powered by machine learning algorithms. These algorithms learn and adapt over time to the data they’re fed.

According to a study by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, African-American and Asian individuals experience 10 to 100 times higher false acceptance rates compared to Caucasian people.

These algorithms must be trained carefully with data sets that are inclusive of all genders, demographics, and races. 

FAQs

1. Is biometric authentication reliable?

Biometric authentication is quite effective but not perfect. For instance, fingerprint scanners can be fooled with fingerprint impressions, facial recognition can be tricked with silicone masks, and iris scanners might struggle with certain eye colors or when you wear glasses or contacts.

2. Is biometric authentication biased?

Biometric authentication technology itself isn't biased, but it works better when trained on diverse and inclusive data. Newer datasets have reduced bias, making biometric processes more fair and effective globally.

3. Can smartphones use biometric authentication?

Yes, most smartphones have built-in biometric features. They often have fingerprint scanners in the home button and use voice recognition for various apps.

4. Can I combine data checks with biometric authentication?

Yes, it's a good idea. Identity involves different pieces of information. By using data checks like name, date of birth, and address along with documents, devices, and biometrics, you can better confirm someone's identity and provide a smoother onboarding experience.

5. How much does biometric authentication cost?

Biometric authentication is more expensive than a simple password or PIN system. However, as technology has improved, the cost has become more competitive with other identity verification methods.