Technology News: Biometrics

The Blood and Guts of Biometric Systems
May 27, 2009

When biometric security devices began appearing nearly a decade ago, they were often touted as the final word in security technology. After all, stealing your password is one thing -- stealing a thumb, a retina or a voice print is a bit more of a chore. Hackers, however, developed techniques to fool biometrics scanners, much like they've found ways around spam filters and firewalls.

The New Biology of Biometrics
September 24, 2008

To a lot of computer users, the concept of biometric authentication is limited to thumb drive reader devices, eye scanners and voice pattern recognition. Such technologies still face stiff competition in most enterprise circles, where passwords and user tokens seemingly work well enough and are quicker and cheaper to deploy.

A Burgeoning Bevy of Biometric Barriers
April 16, 2008

Passwords are not the best of security solutions, as enterprises and individual users have found over the years. They can be cracked or stolen, and not necessarily by high-tech means either. Often, passwords created by end users in corporations are simple, being based on numbers significant to them, such as their birth dates.

Biometrics in the Here and Now
October 10, 2007

The day has come. Fingerprint biometrics is real technology for real people. Spurred by the size and cost advantages of fingerprint sensors and a growing need for security, biometric fingerprint technology is being integrated into more and more devices, including laptop PCs from the leading manufacturers around the world, cell phones -- particularly in Japan -- and home door locks.

Latest Intel Chips Land in Lenovo Laptops
May 09, 2007

Lenovo unveiled on Wednesday three new notebooks built around a new processor and chip set announced the same day by Intel. Lenovo engineered both the ThinkPad T61 and the ThinkPad R61 with its new Top Cover Roll Cage for enhanced durability, an improved thermal management cooling and efficiency system, enhanced wireless connectivity with Ultra Connect II and longer battery life through its Battery Stretch control option.

Intervoice Adds SCXML-Based Products to the Mix
April 05, 2007

Intervoice has just introduced new self-service voice products based on SCXML -- a dialogue language that can be used in multiple contexts and, most intriguingly for vendors and end users, multiple modes. Intervoice is definitely among the earliest adopters of SCXML, Ken Landoline, program manager at the Yankee Group, told CRM Buyer.

Seagate Toughens Security With Encrypted Notebook Drive
March 12, 2007

Seagate Technology has been working on delivering a laptop hard drive with built-in hardware encryption for a couple of years, but now the technology is finally hitting the streets, the company announced Monday. Seagate's new Momentus 5400 FDE.2 uses a government-grade security protocol to encrypt all hard drive information transparently and automatically.

Biometrics: It's All About You
March 10, 2007

If one were to conduct a survey of technology publications over the past decade or so, it's a good bet there would be at least one instance in each of those years in which someone declared that "this is the year of biometrics." Full of promise but long constrained by a diverse set of obstacles, biometrics has not yet lived up to the hype.

Building the Case for Biometrics
March 08, 2007

Biometrics -- or biometric authentication -- refers to technology that measures and analyzes human physical characteristics for security purposes. Physiological, or biometric, characteristics include, for instance, eye retinas, facial patterns and hand or foot measurements, whereas examples of behavioral characteristics include a person's gait and signature.

PayPal to Offer Members Increased Security Option
January 15, 2007

Intending to boost consumer confidence in its online payment system -- and to thwart the scourge of phishing attacks aimed at its users -- eBay's PayPal will begin offering customers the option of using a password-generating device to beef up security. The system will use a key fob, known as the PayPal Security Key, an electronic security key.

2007: Biometrics Grows, Storage Shrinks, 'Free' Disappears
January 09, 2007

Making New Year predictions about technology requires a very polished crystal ball. Eric Openshaw, principal and leader of Deloitte Consulting's technology, media, and telecommunications practice in the U.S., offers some sobering insights into the world of consumer technology, providing details about a few of the most significant trends he sees taking place in 2007.

BAA Tests Biometric Security System at Heathrow
December 10, 2006

The British Airport Authority on Wednesday announced that it has launched a limited scale trial of three integrated, biometric-driven security systems at London's Heathrow airport. The miSense, miSenseplus and miSenseallclear systems are designed to speed up and simplify passenger check-in, boarding and arrival procedures while at the same time strengthen security.

Security Firms Unveil On-Demand Biometric Authentication System
October 09, 2006

Biometric security provider UPEK announced on Monday a partnership with Internet security firm Pay By Touch to bring an integrated biometric security service called "TrueMe" to online transactions.