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| April 28, 2008
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Dear readers,
The Biometrics Info provides you with the latest news on biometrics, smartcards and network security. We provide you with this free service 2 or 3 times a week depending on the news available.
We provide a RSS feed for daily use. During the week all the news will be available through the RSS feed with a weekly summary on friday through the Biometrics Info e-zine.
We carefully selected the newsarticles for this Biometrics Info and we hope you appreciate this edition.
Enjoy reading.
Reinier M. van der Drift
BioXS
English
ID Firms Aren't a Sure Bet
It would seem that companies that focus on biometric identity sensors -- the kinds of tools that require a fingerprint to unlock a computer or to identify people crossing borders -- would be ripe for initial public offerings of stock in the U.S. But if activity this year is any indication, investors are actually giving a thumbs-down on this technology.
Two IPOs that were expected to price, from Cross Match Technologies Inc. and UPEK Inc., have instead pulled their IPOs this year, citing adverse market conditions. A third company that went public in June 2007, AuthenTec Inc., is trading 6% ...
Wall Street Journal
Date: 2008-04-25 |
Facial recognition is same as tossing coin
After all the rhetoric about securing our borders, the Home Office has now announced its intent significantly to weaken passport control in the UK. Starting this summer, border guards will gradually be replaced at UK airports by machines performing automatic facial recognition, comparing digital photographs to the data stored on passport chips.
Four years ago, the Home Office ran biometric enrolment trials in Glasgow, Newcastle and Leicester. The trials revealed plainly the fallibility of state-of-the-art biometric authentication. The worst performing biometric technology was facial recognition, which failed 31% of the time for able-bodied participants and a farcical 52% of the time for disabled participants. Problems were also encountered with the elderly, and the system did not cope well with changes to appearances.
Meanwhile, cryptographic researchers working with NO2ID have demonstrated the ability to clone UK passport chips remotely, without even removing passports from the sealed packaging in which they are delivered to recipients. Now all that will stand between imposters with cloned passports and entry to Britain will be a flawed authentication system that performs no better than tossing a coin.
The Herald
Date: 2008-04-24 |
US exit proposal: a step backward.
The new US Government proposal that airlines and their employees collect biometric information from all non-US citizens has been condemned.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today condemned the new U.S. Government proposal that airlines and their employees collect biometric information from all non-U.S. citizens when departing the U.S. in the U.S. Exit Plan. The U.S. Government plan would require airlines to invest billions in new equipment and the staff to operate it.
“Border protection and immigration are government responsibilities. Airline counter staff are not a substitute for trained border patrol officers. And outsourcing exit formalities to airlines is not a responsible approach,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
4Hoteliers
Date: 2008-04-28 |
Biometric scans for prisoners on drugs scheme
DRUG-addicted inmates at Wakefield's New Hall prison are being asked to provide iris and fingerprint scans to get a heroin substitute.
The scans, which are part of a biometric system, unlock offenders' treatment records, meaning the correct dose of methadone is automatically dispensed.
It is hoped the scheme will stop smuggled meth-adone being used as currency between prisoners.
If a drug-dependent prisoner refuses to take part in the voluntary initiative they will still receive treatment.
While the scheme does not store iris and fingerprint scans, personal data based on the images is kept on file for seven years.
Wakefield Express
Date: 2008-04-25 |
Biometrics making a mark on security of a nation
THE testimonies are aplenty, travel legends that cause many an anxious moment for the ordinary traveller.
“I was questioned inside a holding room for two hours,” a Malaysian visitor recounted his experience on arriving at a US airport.
Another weary traveller spoke of having his statements recorded “as though I was a criminal”.
Well, that’s Uncle Sam for you. The unfortunate ones are picked out for further questioning upon their stepping onto US soil.Security is now even tighter at US airports following a plan to collect all 10 fingerprints of international visitors aged between 14 and 79 arriving at 10 selected points of entry.
Last month, New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport became the 10th airport to adopt the technology since its introduction at Washington Dulles International Airport on Nov 29 last year.
Biometrics and The Iraqi Government, Is This New Babylon
The Iraqi government has expanded its use of biometric identification, a U.S. official in Iraq said yesterday. While the biometric program was procured to screen for identification of the government’s civilian employees, police and army, it has expanded to identify the deceased and screen for previous criminal activity, U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Velliquette Jr., Iraqi biometrics manager for the Coalition Police Assistance Training Team, said in a conference call with online journalists and “bloggers.”
“The Iraqis are embracing it and moving it beyond its initial capability of just being a civil verification system,” Velliquette said. Velliquette said the Iraqis use an automated fingerprint information system to record data on Iraqi citizens and persons of interest. “Currently in the system, we have about 848,000 biometric records,” Velliquette said....
Student Operated Press
Date: 2008-04-25 |
Fingerprints: forward march!
Today new recruits are enlisting with electronic fingerprints rather than signing a piece of paper, as part of the military's drive to eliminate paper signatures. The first recruits used the technology last week at the Baltimore Military Entrance Processing Station. The recruits read the electronic contracts on a computer screen, then touched their index fingers to an electronic pad, uploading their prints and linking them to their contracts. After swearing in the recruits, Air Force Maj. Michael Thomas, deputy station commander, used his own index fingerprint to biometrically sign their contracts. The new service members received printouts of their enlistment contracts, which included a facial photo and the fingerprint. No other paper was required. ...
Security firm touts 'typing fingerprint'
User authentication firm e-Solutions has developed an system based on individual typing behaviour, including speed, rhythm and agility. The technology is designed to overcome some of the existing problems with biometric technology by adding an extra layer of security to normal log-in systems. Biometrics is being hailed by many as an effective way to improve security and verify identification. However, e-Solutions believes that many existing biometric technologies, like fingerprint readers and retina scanners, are problematic and expensive to install and operate.
The Remote Biometric Authentication system analyses typing characteristics to create an individual user profile or 'typing fingerprint'.
The software senses pauses, mistakes and speed, which e-Solutions reckons are just as personally identifiable as handwriting.
Examine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats in the Access Control Market with the Access Control Market Report 2008
DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c89626) has announced the addition of “Access Control Market Report 2008” to their offering. We estimate that the UK market for physical access control was worth £311m at current end-user prices in 2007, having increased in value by 7.2% on 2006. Our estimates include systems installation and maintenance as well as the cost of hardware and software.
Physical access control relates to control of access to a site, building or area, rather than access to data or computer networks. The products included in this market are: audio and video entryphones; keypad systems; card- and token-based access-control systems, including Wiegand cards, magnetic-stripe cards, barcode cards, proximity systems, long-range/hands-free systems, systems to control vehicle access, smart cards and dual-function cards; and biometric systems. Systems may include more than one technology for added security.
businessWire
Date: 2008-04-24 |
New US biometric screening process condemned by IATA
IATA has condemned new legislation by the United States government, moving for airlines and cruiselines to take biometric data from their passengers as they leave the US. Currently, US immigration officials take fingerprints and a photo of non-US citizens as they enter the country. But new moves could see this onus placed on airlines and maritime companies collect the information themselves. Data collected from these companies would then need to be sent to the US government within 24 hours of collection. Already the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has condemned such a move, declaring the policy would not be welcomed by airlines. “Border protection and immigration are government responsibilities,” says Giovanni Bisignani, IATA Director General and CEO. “Airline counter staff are not a substitute for trained border patrol officers. And outsourcing exit formalities to airlines is not a responsible approach.”
eTravel Blackboard
Date: 2008-04-24 |
ImageWare Systems Granted Another Patent on Multimodal Biometric Technology
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ImageWare Systems, Inc. (AMEX:IW), a leading developer of identity management solutions, today announced that has been awarded another patent, number 7,362,884, by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), for its multimodal biometric fusion and analysis technology.
This patent describes a system and method for utilizing multiple biometrics to improve the performance and accuracy over use of a single biometric for identification and authentication purposes. The multimodal method, called biometric fusion, combines biometric search results on multiple biometric identification markers to be brought together into a single result with a higher level of accuracy and reliability. ImageWare utilizes a suite of fusion and normalization techniques for comprehensive identity verification. The patent, titled “Multimodal Biometric Analysis,” is employed throughout ImageWare’s portfolio of biometric identity management solutions and marketed under the IWS™ Biometric Engine® product suite.
BusinessWire
Date: 2008-04-23 |
Deutsch
Erkennungsmerkmal Stimme
biometrischen Merkmalen zählen die DNS, der Fingerabdruck, die Iris sowie die Sprecherverifizierung. Dabei wird die Stimme mit einem hinterlegten Stimmprofil verglichen – eine ideale Methode, um Anrufer kosteneffektiv und schnell am Telefon zu identifizieren.
Viele Unternehmen suchen im Bereich des telefonischen Kundenservices nach Mitteln und Wegen, Kosten zu sparen, die Kundenzufriedenheit zu steigern und Datenmissbrauch zu vermeiden. Da verwundert es nicht, dass die Sprachtechnologien mehr und mehr an Bedeutung gewinnen. Der Einsatz der Sprachtechnologie ist investitionstechnisch sehr interessant.
Biometrie - Ausweg aus dem Passwortdilemma?
(pressebox) Geretsried, 24.04.2008 - "Er nenne mir die Parole!" Jahrhunderte lange war das die wichtigste Phrase im Rittertum um Freund und Feind auseinander zuhalten. Zu diesen Zeiten gab es aber auch drakonische Strafen für ausgeplauderte Losungsworte. Die Konsequenzen bei falscher Identifizierung waren damals wie heute dieselbe, aber mit der zunehmenden Technisierung stehen uns entsprechende Methoden zur Verfügung. James Bond - der Vorreiter bei moderner Technik - braucht sich keine Losungsworte zu merken. Er tritt in das allergeheimste Gemach von M ein, da er biometrisch gescannt wurde. Wobei Mr. Goldfinger zur klassischen Bombe greifen muss, um sich den Zugang zu den Goldkammern von Fort Knox zu verschaffen, da er nicht imstande war, den biometrisch abgesicherten Zugang zu überwinden.
Nederlands
Bank ziet toekomst in kantoor
NICE (DFT) - Rond de eeuwwisseling leek het bankkantoor zijn langste tijd gehad te hebben. Aangespoord door IT-goeroes zetten banken vol in op internet en callcenters, de distributiekanalen van de toekomst, en werd het ene na het andere kantoor gesloten.
Tot de klant begon te protesteren: als die dan een keer naar de bank wil, moet dat wel kunnen. Nu hebben veel banken zelfs plannen het aantal kantoren de komende vijf jaar uit te breiden, zegt Accenture, dat ook veel financiële concerns adviseert. In de Zuid-Franse badplaats Nice liet het concern zelf alvast het bankkantoor van de toekomst verrijzen.
Emmanuel Viale, die zijn toehoorders in razend tempo langs alle hightech snufjes in het Accenture lab loodst, stelt het zich in grote lijnen zo voor: de bankklant maakt zich bij binnenkomst bekend door zijn pasje, zijn vingerafdruk of desnoods zijn gezicht voor een sensor te houden.
Automatische gezichtscontrole Britse luchthavens
LONDEN - Europese luchtreizigers naar Groot-Brittannië kunnen komende zomer worden gecontroleerd met automatische gezichtsherkenning. Met de nieuwe technologie hopen de Britse autoriteiten de veiligheid te verbeteren en wachttijden terug te dringen.
De controle is bedoeld voor Britten en andere inwoners van de Europese Unie en voor ingezetenen van Zwitserland, Noorwegen, IJsland en Liechtenstein. Als zij een biometrisch paspoort hebben, moeten zij door onbemande poortjes die het gezicht scannen en dat vergelijken met data in de chip van de pas.
Als de proeven slagen, dan gaat de regering de nieuwe controlemethode op alle belangrijke luchthavens invoeren, meldde de Britse krant The Guardian vrijdag.
Dagblad v.h. Noorden
Date: 2008-04-25 |
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