2006 Revised and Updated
Educator's Guide to
Computer Crime and Technology Misuse
Curriculum,
Technology, and Education Reform
Prof. Nicholas
Burbules, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
EPS 415: Ethical & Policy Issues in
Information Technologies
Authors: Amy Benish, Cheryl Cheifetz, Kim Darche, Pat Reed, Max Uhls,
Young Hee An, Tykia Owens, Jodi Rund, Brad Frey
Introduction
Credit Card Fraud
Identity Theft
Digital Piracy
Copyright Infringement
Hacking
Worms, DDos, & Cyber-Terrorism
Computer Viruses, Trojan Horses & Logic
Bombs
Phishing
Counterfeiting
General Security
Enforcing Acceptable Use Policies
Online Harassment
Online Bullying
White Papers on Technology Issues for Educators
Educational Policy Studies 415
Prof. Nicholas Burbules
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Curriculum, Technology, and Education Reform Online Masters Program
Contact Information:
Amy Benish
Cheryl Cheifetz
Kim Darche
Pat Reed
Max Uhls
Biometrics
Written by Brad Frey, Johnsburg High School, Johnsburg, IL
Introduction
Biometrics or
bio-identification, is the
practice of measuring physical characteristics of a person to verify
their
identity. The use of
biological properties (e.g.,
fingerprints, retina scans, voice recognition) to identify individuals,
are increasingly popular methods of identification.
They are no longer confined to criminal law enforcement or the imagination of writers. Businesses now use biometrics to regulate access to buildings and to information. Governments are contemplating the inclusion of biometric identifiers in passports, driver's licenses, and possibly a future national ID card. Digital video surveillance is spreading in private and public places.
What are biometric systems?
Biometric systems are automated, mostly computerized systems using distinctive physio-biological or behavioural measurements of the human body that serve as a (supposedly) unique indicator of the presence of a particular individual.
The History of Biometrics
The ideas of biometrics have been around for many years. Possibly the first known example of biometrics in practice was a form of finger printing being used in China in the 14th century, as reported by explorer Joao de Barros. He wrote that the Chinese merchants were stamping children's palm prints and footprints on paper with ink to distinguish the young children from one another. This is one of the earliest known cases of biometrics in use and is still being used today.
What are the most well known
biometric features used for authentication purposes?
| Biometric Trait | Description |
| Fingerprint | Finger lines, pore structure |
| Signature (dynamic) | Writing with pressure and speed differentials |
| Facial geometry | Distance of specific facial features (eyes, nose, mouth) |
| Iris | Iris pattern |
| Retina | Eye background (pattern of the vein structure) |
| Hand geometry | Measurement of fingers and palm |
| Finger geometry | Finger measurement |
| Vein structure of back of hand | Vein structure of the back of the hand |
| Ear form | Dimensions of the visible ear |
| Voice | Tone or timbre |
| DNA | DNA code as the carrier of human hereditary |
| Odor | Chemical composition of the one's odor |
| Keyboard strokes | Rhythm of keyboard strokes (PC or other keyboard) |
What are the advantages of biometric systems for authentication?
Advancing automation and the development of new technological systems, such as the internet and cellular phones, have led users to more frequent use of technical means rather than human beings in receiving authentication. Personal identification has taken the form of secret passwords and PINs. Everyday examples requiring a password include the ATM, the cellular phone, or internet access on a personal computer. In order that a password cannot be guessed, it should be as long as possible, not appear in a dictionary, and include symbols such as +, -, %, or #. Moreover, for security purposes, a password should never be written down, never be given to another person, and should be changed at least every three months. When one considers that many people today need up to 30 passwords, most of which are rarely used, and that the expense and annoyance of a forgotten password is enormous, it is clear that users are forced to sacrifice security due to memory limitations. While the password is very machine friendly, it is far from user-friendly.
There is a solution that returns to the ways of nature. In order to identify an individual, humans differentiate between physical features such as facial structure or sound of the voice. Biometrics, as the science of measuring and compiling distinguishing physical features, now recognizes many further features as ideal for the definite identification of even an identical twin. Examples include a fingerprint, the iris, and vein structure. In order to perform recognition tasks at the level of the human brain (assuming that the brain would only use one single biometric trait), 100 million computations per second are required. Only recently have standard PCs reached this speed, and at the same time, the sensors required to measure traits are becoming cheaper and cheaper. Therefore, the time has come to replace the password with a more user friendly solution -- biometric authentication.
For what purposes are biometrics used?
Biometrics have actual and possible uses wherever it is necessary to authenticate or identify an individual. Biometric access systems aim to substitute 'manual' authentication and identification with an automated system.
Uses of biometric systems can be divided into three major categories, however, the boundaries between these categories are permeable and biometric systems often fall within more than one category.
Firstly, biometric systems can be used as physical access granting systems. The biometric identifier serves as the key to open doors to buildings and vehicles or to gain access to computers and other devices.
Secondly, biometric systems can be used to establish entitlement to services and rights that are restricted to a certain group of individuals. In this case, the service or right in question is only provided or granted to individuals that are identified as belonging to the group of recipients and rights holders. Examples include social services (prevention of welfare fraud), the right to vote (voter registration), right of abode and work (immigration), and all kinds of private membership services or contractual rights.
Thirdly, biometric systems can be used for the recording and association of facts. Such uses include employee attendance monitoring, surveillance of public places, forensics, archiving and retrieving personal information such as health records.
Current uses of Biometric Authentication
The most popular biometric authentication scheme employed for the last few years has been Iris Recognition. The main applications are entry control, ATMs and Government programs. Recently network companies have realized the advantages of biometric authentication for networks and offer products to achieve this scheme. Products offered include fingerprint analysis, iris recognition, voice recognition or combinations of these. However widespread use of biometrics as a means of authentication has not yet been fully realized.
Challenges
for biometrics
Adoption for biometrics has been slow.
Why?
- Businesses and governments are concerned over false
negatives. A
worker who cuts his finger is refused access because his prints don't
match or the worker with a bad case of Laryngitis
cannot get into her computer because her voice isn't recognized.
- The cost for hardware and software is very high. Biometrics are significantly more complex than using passwords or access cards.
- Biometric technologies incite fears of constant supervision, profiling and control, leading to a loss of individuality, privacy and freedom.
- Many people find using their physical characteristics is invasive. They feel uneasy being scanned and are alarmed about having their bodily data digitally stored in large databases along with sensitive personal information.
- Questions such as: Can we trust the accuracy of biometric
technology? Who controls
the collection of biometric data? And who has access to the databases
and for what purpose?
Sample biometric devices
USB drive with built in fingerprint sensor.
Keyboard with built in fingerprint sensor.
Biometrics in the News
http://www.motorola.com/governmentandenterprise/contentdir/en_US/Files/PressReleases/PR_2005Jun27_BIO_Palm_Beach%20.pdfReferences:
Bioidentication
Tech Faq
Team B.A.N.A.N.A.
Last Updated: 06/011/2006