Biometric Authentication

Biometric authentication is any authentication method that is based on human biometrics.

Biomterics is part of the type 3 “something you are” of the primary authentication factors.

Physiological Biometric Methods

Physiological biometric methods featured on this post:

  • Fingerprints
  • Face Scans
  • Retina Scans
  • Iris Scans
  • Palm Scans
  • Voice Pattern Recognition

Biometric Factor Error Ratings

Types of biometric errors:

  1. Type 1 – False Rejection Rate (FRR)
  2. Type 2 – False Acceptance Rate (FAR)

Biometric devices usually have a sensitivity adjustment. Changing this value would modify the FRR and FAR. When you increase sensitivity, FRR increases while FAR decreases. There would be a value in sensitivity where the FRR and FAR are equal.

Crossover Error Rate (CER) or Equal Error Rate (ERR) is the value of both FRR and FAR when they are equal.

CER is used to compare the overall quality of biometric devices.

Biometric Standards

ISO/IEC 30107-3 is the standard for Presentation Attack Detection (PAD) test and report in a biometric systems.

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External References

  • M. Chapman; “CISSP Official Study Guide 9th Edition”, pp. 651-655; Wiley, 2021

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