Biometric ID update 2017 – secure, convenient and growing rapidly

Deloitte Global predicts that the number of mobile devices that include fingerprint readers will top 1 billion this year. About 80% of smartphone users will use fingerprint authentication regularly. An average user will log-on 30 times a day, totaling over 10 trillion fingerprint readings globally throughout the year. While three years ago only premium smartphones had this technology, fingerprint readers are expected to become as standard as cameras on smartphones, tablets and laptops.

Part of the growth of fingerprint authentication is the ease of use. It’s difficult to remember multiple “strong” passwords. By 2020, it’s projected that the average user may have 200 online accounts that require authentication. Fingerprint authentication is easy to set up. Once set up, authentication takes only a second or two as the device checks the matched image stored internally, not "in the cloud". 

While early fingerprint sensors were relatively easy to spoof (fool), newer sensors have ultrasonic technology that captures more detailed images for greater security. Voice readers are hard to use in noisy areas, and voices are easily recorded. Facial recognition works best in good lighting, similar to the original reference picture. It’s sensitive to reflections from glasses or contacts. Facial scans may be spoofed with a photograph. Alternative methods of biometrics authentication account for about 5% of the market compared to 40% for fingerprint readers. 

Current and potential uses of fingerprint ID authentication are growing and include:

• Financial transactions – 43% of adults in developed markets use their phones to access their bank accounts
• Retail transactions – a fingerprint reader could be used to provide fast, convenient 1-touch checkout
• Enterprise use – a fingerprint reader could be used for building access, online intranet access, or timesheet authentication
• Media access – a fingerprint reader could be used to allow access to paid premium online news and entertainment, and prevent sharing of passwords
• Government – biometrics including fingerprints could be used to authenticate and simplify tax payments and enable e-voting

Along with fingerprint readers, smartphones and mobile devices can have enhanced security with behavioral biometrics. The device learns the user's typing habits and location information, and checks against that profile when user authentication is needed. Blended use of different biometric inputs, known as multifactor authentication, is expected to become increasingly popular.


Biometric Security Comes of Age 

By  Paul Lee and Duncan Stewart, a Deloitte Insights Article, published in CIO Journal, Wall Street Journal online, March 16, 2017