All You Need to Know about Digital ID solution and biometric authentication technology!
A digital identity is
an online representation of the individual that can prove identity, access
websites and applications, secure transactions, and engage in online activities.
It can be stored locally on a smartphone or other device or remotely with a
service provider.
The process for
establishing an online identity typically requires two steps. The first step is
to register their identity with a service provider to obtain an identity
credential (or multiple credentials) that uniquely identifies them across a
network of service providers.
The second step is to
use one or more of these credentials as an authenticator when logging into an
online account with a third party. Unfortunately, many people are not clear on
what it means to have a digital ID or how it would work.
The digital ID
solution consists of several components, divided into Hardware, Software,
Identity, and Registry.
The hardware component
of the digital ID solution consists of a combination of a smartphone and
reader or a smart card (an identity card on a chip). The smartphone is used to
scan the fingerprint or the signature of an individual, the signature used for
signing contracts, and the fingerprint used for authenticating transactions.
The combination of
both gives users added security since they can verify that they are who they
say they are. In addition, secure encryption can be used to protect data and
provide a platform for digital signatures.
What is a biometric authentication technology?
Biometric
authentication is one of the safest and most convenient types of identity
verification. It's a type of identity authentication technology that depends on
unique physical characteristics like fingerprints, iris scans, face-recognition
technology, and so on that are used to identify an individual. The level of
security can be very high compared to other methods for identification such as
passwords or cards, so it is ideal for applications where safety and
convenience are key factors.
Where can we apply biometric authentication technology?
Biometric technologies
can be applied to various applications by government agencies, organizations,
and individuals. These include the following:
(1) Business and
Commerce.
Biometric technology
is used to protect business and online accounts from unauthorized access. For
example, biometric-enabled ATMs can only dispense money from the card used for
withdrawal instead of cards swiped through. Also, biometrics can identify a
user without password or pin entry requirements for accessing remote computers
or networks.
(2)
Authentication.
Biometric
authentication involves using a non-password (or unkeyed) credential to
identify an individual. Instead of a password, a PIN, fingerprint, or iris scan
are used to identify and authenticate a user.
(3) Access
control.
Biometric technologies
control access to buildings and secure rooms such as computer rooms,
air-traffic control rooms, and nuclear missile launch rooms. They are also used
on cars to secure their controls and on telephones to identify a user.
(4)
Identification.
Biometric
authentication is used to identify and verify an individual in obtaining a
passport, driver's license, or public transit card. In government applications,
biometric data is stored in databases for identification purposes.
Biometric
authentication has been used for several decades with some success.
What are the advantages of biometric authentication technology?
Biometric
technologies, also known as biometrics, are unique identifiers created from an
individual's special characteristics. They include fingerprints, faces, eyes,
and voices regarding human identification methods. For example, a biometric
distinguishes between two persons with the same name and address.
For governments,
security agencies, and the military, these technologies are vital in preventing
identity fraud, credit card fraud, and cyber-attacks. Because of this, the
adoption of biometrics is on the rise not only in developed nations but also in
developing ones.
For instance, India's
fingerprint authentication technology is currently being used to prevent fraud.
This article seeks to explore the advantages of biometric authentication
technology.
The applications for
biometric technologies are endless and have been used for years by security
agencies, banks, and even employers to authenticate themselves. Shortly,
biometric authentication will drastically reduce instances of fraud in
financial transactions.
In addition, different types of biometrics are
used by separate entities for their purposes, such as fingerprint
identification and iris recognition systems are used by governments to identify
persons.
There are many other
advantages of using biometrics technology to verify an individual's identity.
For instance, this technology is almost impossible for a criminal to crack as
it costs a lot of effort, time, and money to hack.
Also, biometrics is
not prone to wear and tear as it is used for a short period and is not exposed
to the elements. This means that the technology can be used for both the living
and deceased persons by their next of kin. Biometric authentication is also
non-intrusive, unlike other methods such as CCTV, retina scanning, and digital
scanners, which are intrusive.
Comments