CR80News | Biometric Security Not Quite Ready to Replace Passwords

Thursday, May 2, 2002

Government Computer News via the Washington Post

May 2, 2002 - Government Security News - Biometrics vendors are doing their best to supplant passwords as the chief form of computer security, but Government Computer News Lab tests indicate that many of their products are not quite ready. Some developers have continued to improve already good devices, but others need to go back to the drawing board.

Bad biometric security is worse than no security at all because it can lock out a legitimate user, admit an interloper or – perhaps most dangerous – lull a network administrator into a false sense of safety.

Please click here to visit the Washington Post for the full review of six fingerprint-recognition devices and one voice-recognition device.

Rogers certifies Suretap NFC payments for Android, BlackBerry 10

Canadian telecom giant Rogers Communications has announced the certification of its suretap service for the Android and BlackBerry 10 operating systems.

A report from engadget reveals that certification of the new suretap solution will enable issuers like banks, loyalty and reward programs to forge mobile payment solutions for both Android and BlackBerry 10 devices by utilizing the secure SIM card housed in NFC-enabled devices. Rogers’ suretap service is accepted at thousands of MasterCard PayPass and Visa payWave contactless terminals across Canada.

Fingerprint enabled fob for secure storage, data access

The problems with passwords will go away with a new device trying to get funding on Kickstarter. Mark Thacker, the COO and co-founder of myIDkey, has a startup that developed a USB-sized device which stores and displays secure passwords and information, according to a report on dvice.com.

Report: Consumers want better online authentication

Consumers don’t like user names and passwords and would rather have multi-purpose identity credentials that could be used across sites, according to a study from the Ponemon Institute.

Keystroke authentication to replace passwords?

Researchers at Iowa State University are exploring the concept of keystroke authentication as a way to replace passwords, reports CNET.

Associate professor of engineering Morris Chang is working with a team to identify people by their typing methods and keystroke speed. The goal is not just to authenticate someone logging into a website or system, but also to continuously monitor their activity while at that site to ensure an account hasn’t been hijacked.

Can passphrases strengthen the embattled password?

University says yes, researchers suggest caution

Andy Williams, Associate Editor, Avisian Publications

Keeping a university’s computer system secure from outside hackers is only half the battle. Securing the thousands of student computers that log into campus networks on a daily basis is the other half. Protecting the university’s network is an around-the-clock challenge.

Attack forces Evernote to roll out two-factor authentication

A recent hack on Evernote, a web and mobile note-taking application, has prompted the company to roll out new security measures months ahead of schedule.

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Biometric Security Not Quite Ready to Replace Passwords