Retinal scan
US Researchers Working On Biometric System To Completely Replace Passwords
by CBR Staff Writer | 14 November 2013 Researchers claim the use of biometric technology to eliminate the requirement of passwords would is a likely next step. Researchers at Purdue University are developing new biometrics technology, which would allow users to log into computers using iris and fingerprint scans rather than typing passwords. Being developed at the university’s International Center for Biometrics Research, the technology will enable logging into a computer or activate a smartphone by swiping their fingerprint over a sensor which will not require frequently changing passwords. International Center for Biometrics Research director Stephen Elliott was cited by Associated Press as saying that iris and fingerprint scans, as well as facial and voice recognition, are just a few of the tools that can boost security while making lives easier. “I think the average person would tell you they have too many passwords and it’s a hassle to change them all the time, and therefore they use the same password for lots of things, which inherently makes that easier to break,” Elliott added. According to researchers, soldiers in Iraq carry handheld devices that enable scanning fingerprints, retinas and faces and evaluate them with identities in the database Researchers noted that the use of biometric technology to eliminate the requirement of passwords would be a natural next step.
Source www.cbronline.com
PayPal Study Finds Consumers Okay With Biometrics
Visitors walk past an eBay and PayPal banner at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in this Feb. 28, 2012, file photo. Apple’s newest iPhone may have spurred some debate over whether it’s a good idea to unlock your phone with your fingerprint, but a new study from PayPal finds that a majority of Americans are comfortable with the idea of using their biometric information instead of the pesky passwords that are currently the norm. The survey, sponsored by PayPal and the National Cyber Security Alliance, found that 53 percent of those surveyed are “comfortable” replacing passwords with fingerprints, 45 percent would opt for a retinal scan, and 41 percent are comfortable with photo identification. This survey was conducted using an opt-in online panel, and its results cannot be projected to the overall U.S. public. Responses to the survey sketch a picture that suggests we’re more reliant than ever on our smartphones but still very unsure about the proper security measure we should be taking on our mobile devices. Two-thirds of those polled said that they keep their smartphones no farther than one room away — and 10 percent said they have their smartphones in hand at all times when not showering or sleeping. But nearly as many people, 63 percent, said that they don’t know or are unsure about what kind of financial information they store on their phones. Follow The Post’s new tech blog, The Switch , where technology and policy connect.
Source www.washingtonpost.com