On a global scale, one revolutionary idea that technology has brought to the fore is the biometric security system. Simply put, biometrics are any metrics relating to body measurements such as fingerprints, voice patterns or facial recognition used in authenticating security identities or initiating online payments.
Biometrics offer a great security advantage by replacing passwords as well as providing convenience and improved security. However, can this improved security measure help alleviate smartcard security issues? This article discusses this in depth.
Smartcards are designed with an embedded microprocessor or electronic chip that allows users to initiate payments or authenticate identity. When a smartcard is inserted into a payment terminal, the information stored on the microprocessor can easily be accessed and processed in under few seconds through a mounted contact pad, and this makes smartcards more secured compared to previously used security systems such as magnetic stripes.
While smartcards are not exactly special security systems that can mitigate data compromise entirely, they do provide improved security through an added layer of protection called personal identification numbers (PIN). Besides the improved security that comes with PINs, they are also less complicated and easy to remember for users.
However, there is a pitfall associated with using PINs for security systems such as smartcards. Because PINs allow the use of only four-digit numbers, a study carried out by The Guardian found that most people create PINs using repeated numbers (example, 1111, 5555) while a vast majority of others use important dates while creating PINs such as 0115 for someone born on the 15th of January. This demonstrates a very weak practice in creating security PINs.
In such situations where we cannot totally rely on PIN security systems to avert data breaches, that’s where biometrics come in. Biometrics use the human body’s physical characteristics such as fingerprints, iris or voice patterns to authenticate identifications and initiate payments.
Biometrics are proven to be a viable alternative to traditional security systems where data breach cases were erstwhile rampant. Unlike smartcards with PINs authentication alone, biometrics make it impossible for unauthorised users to replicate card information and initiate purchases online.
Basically, biometrics work by allowing users to record biometric information such as a fingerprint which is then stored and can be accessed anytime for comparison during authentication of your personal identification. The beauty of biometrics is that every individual has their own unique biometric information that’s only peculiar to them. The probability of anyone having the same biometric information as you anywhere on this planet is highly unlikely.
In the past, hackers could steal biometric data such as facial recognition or fingerprints using spoof methods. However, modern biometric systems have been equipped with advanced spoofing-proof technology that only accepts a live biometric identifier. This means that a hacker cannot validate your biometric identity using a sample print of your fingerprint.
For instance, you may unwittingly throw caution to the wind when using a smartcard in shopping malls or at grocery stores. Thus hackers and cybercriminals can make you a soft target. Also, when you need to authorise a purchase online, e-commerce store owners always require that you provide your card number, expiration date and the security code at the back of the card.
Besides the inconvenience that comes with providing all of this information, your card credentials can get stolen when an e-commerce site does not have the necessary security measures integrated to their site. Given the risks stated above, biometrics can help alleviate the security issues associated with smartcards because unique body characteristics are non-replicable.
While biometrics have a lot to offer for improved smartcard security, the protection comes with a cost. As such, retail and grocery stores have not massively adopted biometric readers at their payment terminals, and this makes the adoption very slow. When most card payment terminals start supporting biometric systems, we will see an increase in usage and by extension, improved smartcard security systems.
Author’s bio
David Smith is a cryptographer with 12 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He is currently working in Cardzgroup (http://www.cardzgroup.com) his expertise includes: system design and implementation with contact and contactless smartcards, smartcard personalisation and mobile payments.
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