Lecture 7: 5th October 2019

Question 1

What are biometrics?

Answer 1

Biological authenticators based on physical attributes and characteristics

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of biometric authentication systems?

Answer 2

can’t be lost; can be coerced or stolen; low trust for privacy and affinity for biometric auth systems; systems often can be slow and expensive

Question 3

What are some examples of biometrics?

Answer 3

voice recognition, handprints, thumbprints, retinal scan, DNA, keystroke dynamics, gait anlysis, palm vein depth, body odour, body shape, ear shape…

Question 4

When may biometrics authentication systems fail to work?

Answer 4

moisturised skin would prevent print recognition; musicians and builders don’t work well with thumbprint recognition; voice recognition trained to user’s voice/accent

Question 5

What is FAR?

Answer 5

false acceptance rate: when authentication allowed but shouldn’t be

Question 6

What is FRR?

Answer 6

false rejection rate: when authentication denied when should have been

Question 7

What is FAR aka?

Answer 7

fraud rate

Question 8

What is FRR aka?

Answer 8

insult rate

Question 9

What do biometric authentication systems require for pattern matching and recognition?

Answer 9

lots of training data and stats

Question 10

What are the aims and priorities of biometric authentication systems?

Answer 10

Have low as possible FAR and FRR, but prioritise low FAR over FRR: worse to have terrorists on plane vs angry customers. But a balance is needed to stay profitable.

Question 11

Why are people resistant to biometrics?

Answer 11

Privacy concerns

Question 12

Why is heterogeneity an issue with biometrics?

Answer 12

Different data protection laws and algorithms and standards used in different countries prevent interchange and collaboration which makes security worse.

Question 13

How does iris recognition work?

Answer 13

Analyse > 200 points, with a focus on the shape of the eye and iris itself, to build a signature.

Question 14

What are some issues with biometrics?

Answer 14

Not seen as more trusted than a PIN; costly to install; users must learn to use and accept new system; must consider when to use: DNA to pass customs but not to buy a meal deal; privacy concerns; different standards and patterns used prevents collaboration for securoity

Question 15

What are soft biometrics?

Answer 15

Biological authentication factors which can change over time or are less precise in distinguishing or identifying people than hard biometrics, which can never change (DNA).

Question 16

What are some soft biometrics?

Answer 16

height, weight, gait, facial features, hair colour.

Question 17

Are biometrics or no authentication to authenticate credit cards perceived to be more trusted?

Answer 17

Biometrics

Question 18

Are biometrics or PINs perceived to be more trusted to authenticate credit card use?

Answer 18

No sig difference

Question 19

What are the issues with converting to a biometric-based authentication system?

Answer 19

People aren’t keen from privacy; have to learn to use a new system and accept it; costly to make and install

Question 20

What happens when FAR < FRR?

Answer 20

More people falsely rejected than falsely accepted. Good security but would be unhappy customers. Used for high-security applications, e.g. military.

Question 21

What happens when FAR = FRR?

Answer 21

Same number of people falsely authenticated as falsely rejected; tradeoff between security and happy customers. Used for general civilian applications.

Question 22

What happens when FAR > FRR?

Answer 22

Poor security but happy customers; more people falsely authenticated than are falsely rejected; used in forensic applications.