“Biometric fingerprint scanning is an advanced method of access control that uses unique traits of people such as fingerprints to authenticate and grant access to people.”
Information has become a new essential thing to protect from various possible threats because this information can be a sensitive concern to various entities. For example, the Business plan of an MNC can be an essential thing to protect from various problems. Fingerprint scanners have a complex mechanism which is a much more secure process compared with traditional login/password systems.
However, Biometric Fingerprint scanning technology is an access control technology. In this world, cases of data leak, and identity theft are increasing every day, it will secure us from these threats. It is a physical security system that requires a physical interaction to access the data, which makes it a tamper-proof technique. So, it is not an easy thing to break or hack a biometric fingerprint system.
In biometric systems, fingerprints are a unique feature and no two people can have total similarity in their fingerprints. Fingerprints are used for both authentication (matching a person’s biometric characteristics) and identification (determining the identity of a person).
How does Biometric fingerprint scanning work?
Biometric fingerprint scanning utilizes a physical device called a fingerprint scanner and built-in software that matches the scanned fingerprint with the database, and allows access or disallows it. Fingerprint scanners are of the following types:
1. Optical Scanner: It captures a digital image of your fingerprint by reflecting through prism light and converting this data into the form of an image.
2. Capacitive Scanner: A capacitive scanner generates a small electric charge through the miniature built-in capacitor that can store electricity. The capacitor gets discharged when you touch the scanner. It will measure the distance and the gaps in the skin, and determine the distance between the measured pattern.
3. Ultrasound Scanner: This scanner does not require any physical contact between fingers and scanner to get the reading, and it provides the benefit of reading the fingerprints in more than a three-dimensional manner. It is used to record the echo created by the fingerprints to measure the different fingerprint features.
4. Thermal Scanner: A thermal scanner uses heat to measure the temperature difference between the features of the fingerprint (Ridges and Valley).
Biometric Fingerprint Scanning: Applications
Fingerprint scanners can contribute to the success of various businesses by implementing a secure biometric scanning system into their operations.
1. Retail Sector: A biometric system can improve the security of a retail store, secure the payment process, and even help to simplify this payment process, which is a time-consuming process. Employers of the retail store can log into the system by authenticating their identity through this method, which will reduce the chances of theft in the retail stores. It can also help shop owners maintain a record of their employer's attendance.
2. Healthcare sector: A biometric fingerprint system can help hospitals and clinics by improving the identification process of patients, which will help authorities maintain the data of every patient. This will reduce the risk of medical errors, and it will also help in creating a personalized treatment process.
3. Banking Sector: A fingerprint scanner system in the banking sector can add an extra security layer to the banking sector. Securing banking services by enabling biometric authentication to secure account access, transaction, and ATM withdrawal process.
4. Industrial and manufacturing sector: The manufacturing industry can implement fingerprint scanners to create a barrier to access control for some restricted areas like document rooms, and production facilities. It will also help in inventory management by tracking who can handle critical materials and products.
5. Hotel management: To enhance the security features for guests, hotels can implement Fingerprint scanners in front of every room as a feature of access control, which will authenticate the personal privacy of every guest. It will enhance the overall customer experience, and help the hotels to maintain a record of the check-in and check-out process.
6. Education Sector: Fingerprint scanner systems in schools and universities help maintain the attendance record of students, provide access control from prohibited places, and provide a secure identification process for students, which will ensure a safe learning environment for students.
7. Construction and real-estate sector: A construction site can have valuable stuff, including a construction plan (Blueprint of infrastructure) and raw construction materials. This will create a secure system for higher authorities to prohibit outsiders from unauthorized workers from particular places.
8. Transport System: A fingerprint scanner system for logistics and transportation can authenticate a particular driver to use an assigned vehicle, working hours, and vehicle security and manage access to restricted areas within the transportation centers.
To conclude, as an access control system, fingerprint scanning is an advanced feature on our smart devices(Smartphones, laptops, tablets), it protects us from unauthorized logins, and authenticates others' identities to protect ours. This enhances the level of security on our smart devices. To verify a person’s identity, it authenticates their unique physical attributes known as biometrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1) What are the benefits of using fingerprints in Biometric security?
1. Fingerprints are hard to fake, and it is a more secure technique than a traditional password system.
2. Fingerprint in the biometric system is a high-level security for the identification process.
3. The fingerprint scanning technique is a convenient process and improves the user experience.
4. A fingerprint-based biometric system is easy to deploy and is cost-effective.
Q2) What are the types of Biometric characteristics?
Biometric characteristics are some unique features of a person, which help others to identify them.
1. Physiological Traits: These traits contain the physical characteristics of a person. They have unique features from the time of their birth like fingerprints, faces, iris patterns, DNA, etc.
2. Behavioral Traits: Behavioral traits are also unique but behavioral traits take time to develop in a person, and they become consistent traits of a person, such as handwriting, signatures, gait, etc.
Q3) What is a fingerprint scanner used for?
Fingerprint scanners are helping us with so many things, from unlocking the doors to unlocking our smartphones but the core idea behind fingerprint scanners is the identification and authentication of a user.
Fingerprints are commonly used in:
1. Physical access control, unlocking doors, PCs, Smartphones, Weapon inventory, Logging check-in and check-out time, etc.
2. Criminal registration into the record and their identification.
3. Crime scene identification and forensics.
4. Identification and authentications in payment cards, POS, smart cards, ATM cards, etc.
Disclaimer: The information presented here is for general information purposes only and true to best of our understanding. Users are requested to use any information as per their own understanding and knowledge. Before using any of the information, please refer to our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
