The use of one or more biometric identifiers to verify a user’s online access to the devices, system, or data is known as biometric authentication. Any physical or behavioral trait that can be used to securely identify a particular person is referred to as a biometric identifier. According to a recent report, 57% of businesses employ fingerprints as a form of biometric verification, making it one of the most popular options. Government agencies and border management organizations were the most valuable end users, accounting for more than 3.5 billion USD of the market’s total value in 2020. Here, we talk about how biometrics are transforming mobile phone usage.
Advantages of Biometric Verification
The following are the benefits of biometrics for smartphones:
Flexibility
Depending on the hazard associated with a specific activity or the operational environment, each digital interaction needs the proper protection at all costs. Users have the option of authenticating through automatic speech recognition, eye recognition, facial ID, biometric ID, voice ID, or any variation of these.
Convenience
The biometric authentication process is more simple. No need to keep in mind a complicated and one-of-a-kind password. Additionally, if the user forgets the password, you end up losing productivity. Over time, the password must be updated, which is an added headache.
More Protection
A PIN or password verification is less secure than biometric verification. The password is easily hackable, deactivated, and susceptible to digital impersonation. Contrarily, biometric identifiers are far safer and more difficult to counterfeit, particularly when used in multi-factor biometric security systems.
Unique Biometric IDs of Different Types
The most popular biometric authentication IDs or modalities for smartphones are:
Fingerprint Detection
In addition to accessing smartphones, fingerprint detection is also likely to be secure enough to verify banking, digital payments through mobile, and other financial apps needing strong security.
Face Recognition
The most used biometric smartphone Market authentication method is face ID or face detection. With the introduction of the iPhone, Apple prioritized face ID above fingerprint recognition. The most foolproof way to authenticate Apple Pay transactions is Face ID, which is found in the most recent iPhone models.
Eye Scanning
Face recognition and eye scanning are extremely comparable. We can confirm that one of the distinctive biometric features utilized for identification is the iris. Users must line their iris with the scanner frame while holding the cell phone. Eye scanning is not currently a widely used method of transactional authentication.
Speech Recognition
Some Android devices do enable speech recognition even though it is not a common biometric identity for mobile phones. Speech recognition has enormous potential to become one of the most important biometric identifiers in the upcoming years.
The Security of Biometric Information
The Philippines had the most rise in multi-factor verification traffic in 2021. India, which had an increase of 80%, came in second. Mobile phones that allow biometric security systems include a hardware security mechanism that securely stores all user biometric data, including fingerprint scans, facial images, and audio prints. The fingerprint sensor, camera, or video recorder gathers biometric data during the verification process and sends it to the module. This module checks whether the information stored by the user and the data gleaned from the hardware match, and if they do, permission is granted. This guarantees that no application or system outside the component, including the operating system of the phone, will ever receive the user’s original biometric information. This feature is known as the “Trusted Execution Environment” in Android and the “Secure Enclave” in iOS.
Biometrics Authentication Implementation Architectures
There are two architectures that can be used to implement biometric security for mobile applications:
Device Centric Architecture
This architecture allows for the local device-based collection, storage, and matching of biometric information with experimental sensor data.
Benefits of Device-Centric Architecture
- If a server is hacked, it prevents a significant breach.
- Isolation from the server results in high adaptability.
- Even when a man-in-the-middle attack occurs, it remains safe.
Server Centric Architecture
The biometric information is kept centrally on a secure server in this architecture. The server processes the biometric authentication checks that were obtained during authentication and compares them to the biometric data that has been stored there.
Benefits of Server-Centric Architecture
- The verification process is centralized.
- Data analysis to enhance matching and recognition efficiency.
- Even smartphones with little computing power still perform well.
- In order to access SaaS, a user must create a biometric user authentication identification from one system and log in from another.
- Even if the gadget is lost or stolen, the authentication information is safe and protected.
Both architectures have a significant number of benefits. An architecture may be chosen based on the requirements of the company.
Conclusion
In summary, biometric authentication is redefining authentication methods, particularly for mobile devices. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.1%, the market for authentication and identity is predicted to increase from $8 billion in 2021 to $17.7 billion in 2026, with end customers in the banking and finance sector accounting for more than two billion dollars. Biometric technology is still in its infancy, but given the scope of some intrusions, it is quickly rising to the top of the agenda.