Fingerprint identification is the oldest biometric method. Everybody has a set of unique fingerprints, formed by the ridges and valleys on the skin. Fingerprints have been used in many fields, such as crime scene investigation and criminal database to identify people. In terms of technology, biometrics are used as an authentication method, alone or in combination of other techniques, such as password or another biometric forms.<\/p>\n
A fingerprint scanner collects, prints, and creates images that can then be analyzed and compared to images already on record. Optical and capacitance are the two major scanners used on the market to collect and analyze fingerprints. An optical scanner works like a digital camera where it collects data on the light reflected off of one’s fingerprints. The lightness\/darkness of the reflection is created by ridges and valleys on the skin. A capacitance scanner also creates an image of one’s print; however, it uses electrical current and conductivity to mark the light\/darkness area of the print.<\/p>\n
After an image collection, a fingerprint scanner system compares specific features of the print (or minutiae), such as angle of certain ridge\/valley, location of circles, etc. To get a match, the system doesn’t need to find every pattern in both the sample and the record, it just needs enough matches, and threshold varies.
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\nGOALS\/ASSETS<\/p>\n
ADVERSARIES AND THREATS<\/p>\n
WEAKNESSES<\/p>\n
DEFENSES<\/p>\n
EVALUATION<\/p>\n
We have only touched on a small set of assets, weaknesses and adversaries that associated with fingerprint scanner and authentication. This technology is fairly new and has not yet been widely adopted by all authentication methods mainly because it’s still in a stage of trial and getting approval of method. What makes biometrics different than all other types of authentication is it is considered as “what we are.” To make it work, users must invest personal asset (in this case their unique finger print) into the system, and thus risk of exposing it to the world, if not properly secured. This put users in a place where protecting their prints becomes another item on the list since prints are left wherever users touch. To a more extreme case, users might lose a finger or two, or even a whole hand, if adversaries must need fingerprints to gain access. Also, unlike passwords, fingerprints cannot be replaced. This limits the extensibility of how long fingerprints could be used.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION<\/p>\n
Fingerprint scanner is an excellent means of identification. Instead of memorizing passwords, people can use something unique to themselves to protect their assets. But these devices may increase vulnerability to security attacks, and once the fingerprint gets into the wrong hand, it is really hard to replace it. So for now, it is better if we don\u2019t have everything we own protected by a fingerprint scanner. Fingerprint scanners cannot be thought as password replacements. Rather, they can be considered as an additional security items that help improve security. We are hoping that as technology improves, fingerprint scanner will become more reliable and it can be an integral part of human\u2019s life.<\/p>\n
Xia (My) Cam & Devy Pranowo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Fingerprint identification is the oldest biometric method. Everybody has a set of unique fingerprints, formed by the ridges and valleys on the skin. Fingerprints have been used in many fields, such as crime scene investigation and criminal database to identify people. In terms of technology, biometrics are used as an authentication method, alone or in combination of other techniques, such as password or another biometric forms.<\/p>\n
A fingerprint scanner collects, prints, and creates images that can then be analyzed and compared to images already on record. Optical and capacitance are the two major scanners used on the market to collect and analyze fingerprints. An optical scanner works like a digital camera where it collects data on the light reflected off of one’s fingerprints. The lightness\/darkness of the reflection is created by ridges and valleys on the skin. A capacitance scanner also creates an image of one’s print; however, it uses electrical current and conductivity to mark the light\/darkness area of the print.<\/p>\n
After an image collection, a fingerprint scanner system compares specific features of the print (or minutiae), such as angle of certain ridge\/valley, location of circles, etc. To get a match, the system doesn’t need to find every pattern in both the sample and the record, it just needs enough matches, and threshold varies. Continue reading