Three Ways Biometrics are Being Used in Everyday Products

When you were growing up, security features were probably limited to things like physical locks and PIN numbers.

12:19 07 March 2018

Now, thanks to biometric technologies, we can use our unique faces, irises and fingerprints to protect a number of devices. What helps make biometrics so revolutionary is the notion that every person can be accurately identified by his or her one-of-a-kind physical traits. And, unlike PINs, passwords and answers to security questions, you can’t “forget” your fingerprints, nor can they be hacked by a cybercriminal. 

 

With this in mind, let’s take a look at three products that are now using biometric technology:

 

Smartphones

Prior to biometric security features, people could set up passcodes, PIN codes and/or patterns to prevent others from getting into their smartphones. Now, biometric technology is helping with this process. For example, if you recently purchased the Samsung Galaxy S8, you may have been pleasantly surprised to learn that the phone features the hat-trick of biometrics: facial recognition, iris scanning and fingerprint scanning. Since most people use their smartphones for things like banking, paying bills, checking their stock portfolios and exchanging emails with their bosses and other employees, it is important to keep it as safe and secure as possible. By using the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S8, you can easily secure and unlock your device. If you prefer, you can use the special sensors on the front of the phone to identify your iris and/or face.

 

Payment Industry

A number of companies in the payment industry are eagerly adopting biometric technologies. For example, MasterCard has launched a pilot program that helps shoppers improve the security of their purchases through the power of facial recognition. When shopping in person, people can snap a quick selfie to verify their identity. If someone is shopping online and using a MasterCard to pay, he or she will still use either the selfie recognition feature or a finger scan. Like the smartphones, this approach will do away with easy-to-hack PINs and passwords and will make the shopping experience smoother and more secure.

 

Keyless Door Locks

When it comes to a really practical use for biometric security, it’s hard to beat keyless door locks. This type of lock is great because you no longer have to keep track of your keys and fumble around in your backpack or purse looking for them. You simply put your finger on the scanner, it will determine if you are you based on your fingerprint and voila — you can get in your home. As a bonus, you can find keyless door locks in a number of shapes and sizes, so it should be pretty easy to update your existing locks with the biometric variety. For example, the iTouchless Bio-Matic Fingerprint Deadbolt Door Lock from Home Depot is easy to install and fits most door holes. It features “live layer optical sensor technology” that allows you to add or delete users right from the lock’s PIN pad. The fingerprint pad is covered with a lid that flips up, so you don’t have to worry about it getting rained or snowed on.

 

You have a lot at stake with your smartphone, credit card and home. While you want to be able to use and access these things whenever you want, you certainly do not want a criminal to get a hold of your phone or credit card or use a found key to get into your house. By looking for products with revolutionary biometric technology, you can feel a bit more at peace about the security of these products.