Is Biometric Security Immune to Attack?
Biometric Authentication Methods are probably the most advanced in identifying people today. But unfortunately, like all other types of authentication, they are vulnerable to attack. However, it takes an incredibly sophisticated attacker to break through the security of this standard. Yet it sometimes happens. That’s why we must know the types of attacks that can penetrate this system.
What are the Security and Privacy Issues of Biometrics?
It would be good to think that biometric systems are more secure, as they are high in accuracy and their performance is excellent. Yet research has revealed a host of security and privacy issues that must be taken into consideration. Otherwise, they are as problematic as any other security method. This is a list of issues.
- Inside Contact: If the enemy who wants to penetrate the security of an organization has a contact on the inside of the security team protecting the data, particularly one who can be persuaded to betray the confidence reposed in them, then the enemy’s work is relatively easy. Obtaining the information required to access the system is easy for the contact.
- Fake Presentation: When an enemy gets access to the information required for recognition technology, they can present a fake fingerprint or image. They may get access without detection until long after they have finished their work and left the scene. Fingerprints can be duplicated, like an image, so neither a fingerprint pad nor a camera is foolproof. A biometrics method that uses analysis of a feature like an iris or veins for recognition purposes is much more difficult to defeat.
- Malware Attacks: If biometric data is intercepted, it can be copied and altered to accommodate data from an imposter. If biometric data is stolen, the person whose fingerprint profile is intercepted could be affected until the end of life. Particularly if the profile contains a full dataset of their details. There have been increasing incidences of malware attacks on computer systems storing biometric data and unless the data is stored securely, there is a big security threat. According to the results of research by security experts, Kaspersky in 2019, malware attacks on computers storing biometric data have risen at an alarming rate. Up to a third of computers may be targeted by malware. So the secure storage of biometric samples and data needs to be a top priority for companies that use these applications.
- Transmission Level Attacks: Sometimes biometric data needs to be transmitted to another place. The information is usually encrypted during this process. However, some applications will not use encryption and the data may be intercepted and stolen during this process.
- Input Level Attacks: Sometimes biometric systems are attacked and overwhelmed at the user level. For instance, a person approaches a face recognition system and shines a bright light into the camera. This can have the effect of rendering the recognition system useless and it may be possible to gain access, in any case, rendering images ineffective. So constant monitoring is required.
Four Solutions to Biometric Attacks
There are a number of solutions to the problem of biometric attacks.
- Enhanced Server Security: The security features on servers where samples and data are kept for storage and classification must be enhanced. Such sensitive data needs to be stored on dedicated servers and computers, not on those shared with other systems. That’s a basic security model.
- Encryption: Security channels should be encrypted at every possible juncture.
- Limiting Unsuccessful Attempts: When a user, presenting forged biometric data, fails to access a system, their attempts may be limited after a number of tries.
- Multiple-Step Authentication: Using multiple biometrics (facial images, fingerprints), or a combination of biometrics and a password, creates a security model that’s more difficult to access.
Biometric Authentication is the Future
Biometrics as a form of authentication is here to stay. As all security systems come under attack, it will be the same for biometrics systems. It is best to find ways to stay a step ahead of the attackers.
Zoe Scott is an accomplished writer at McCully Technical Services, where she specializes in creating professional, readable, and informative technical documentation. With a keen ability to make complex information accessible, Zoe contributes to delivering cost-effective business, technical, environmental, and healthcare writing and editing services that reflect positively on client companies.
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