biometrics

In India, a planned unique ID system will process hundreds of thousands of requests against the world's largest database of individuals.

Biometrics encompasses a variety of methods for ensuring identity based on physical or behavioral traits. Conventional identifying traits include fingerprints, face topology, iris structure, hand geometry, vein structure, voice, signature and keystroke recognition. Emerging technologies analyze characteristics such as gait, odor, and ear shape. Rather than being used in isolation, biometrics systems are increasingly becoming multimodal, an approach that serves both to increase security and overcome failure-to-enroll problems.

According to Winston Churchill, there is no worse mistake in leadership than to hold out false hopes. One area where false hopes have long abounded is information security, and it's happening again.

The FBI and Department of Defense are undergoing massive security-system makeovers that will make more extensive use of DNA, facial recognition, iris scans and palm over the traditional fingerprints for security investigations.

The FBI plans to migrate from its IAFIS fingerprint database to a new biometrics system that will include DNA records, 3-D facial imaging, palm prints and voice scans.

British scientists are investigating the viability of a new biometric technique that would make use of the human ear as a way for a third party to identify the person they are speaking to.

They are etched into the conventional wisdom of IT security, but are these 12 articles of faith (to some) actually wise, or are they essentially myths? A panel of experts offer their judgments.