Biometric question

["Jacob Kitchel" <jacob_kitchel () hotmail com>]

A retina scan DOES NOT use a laser and does not scan! Among many, this is a 
common misconception in the biometrics world. Please read this article for a 
description of how it works:

http://hotwired.lycos.com/synapse/hotseat/97/34/transcript2a.html

quote from the article:
McChesney: How is that image of the rear of the eye read? With a laser?

Siedlarz: Well, no. There's a common misconception about that. It's really a 
harmless beam of light that's used for scanning. And part of the confusion, 
of course, is that we have the word "scan" in our name when we really don't 
do that. We're using essentially common video imaging that then digitizes 
that image and puts it into an iris code that, as Randy pointed out, is put 
into silicon and available for recall.

--end quote

While the iris is mentioned in this quote, it is also valid for retina 
scans.






----Original Message Follows----
From: "Joey" <josefhuggins () hotmail com>
To: "Security Basics" <security-basics () securityfocus com>
Subject: Re: Biometric question
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 05:31:58 -0800
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security-basics-return-15881-jacob_kitchel=hotmail.com () securityfocus com

To clarify:retinal scanning is about as effective as fingerprints. Retinal
scanning uses a laser light, often in the green part of the spectrum to scan
the blood vessels of the internal eye. Both methods scan around 90 metric
points. They can easily read false depending on whether or not the
biological sample (in this case eyeball or finger) is placed exactly in the
same position as it was when it was initially scanned. There is, of course,
with most software a threshold setting which will allow readings to require
either a very precise ( a finger must be placed in exactly the same spot
every time on a reader ) or very minimal ( a finger can be placed anywhere
near the center of the reader, but the accuracy drops proportionately )
setting. The best way to go from everything I've seen and read is with iris
scans. Whereas fingerprint and retina scans read around 90 metric points, an
iris scan reads about 250. Iris scans are non-invasive whereas retina scans
require a laser light or other strong light source directed through the
cornea in order to read the vessel pattern in the back of the eye. While
it's allot more expensive, if security, and not money is your concern, I
think iris scanners are the way to go. If you can't "hack" it and you have
to settle w/fingerprint or retinal scanners, I would go for the fingerprint
scanner.

-J

----- Original Message -----
From: Naveed Ahmed <naveed.ahmed () vinciti com>
To: <msconzo () tamu edu>; <security-basics () security-focus com>
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 11:05 AM
Subject: RE: Biometric question


> Michael is right.
> the better ones are ( at least relatively more difficult to fake) retina
> scans and  voice recognition.
> dont go by what tom cruise does in 'minority report' with the eye
balls.!!!
> rgds
> -Naveed
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Sconzo [mailto:msconzo () tamu edu]
> Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 10:43 PM
> To: security-basics () security-focus com
> Subject: RE: Biometric question
>
>
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> One of the more memorable things that I have read about fingerprint
> scanners is:
> http://www.counterpane.com/crypto-gram-0205.html#5
>
> You can basically fake a fingerprint biometric machine with a gummi
> bear.  If I remember correctly, the majority of fingerprint scanners
> are vulnerable to this type of attack. One of the big things to look
> for is one that samples SHAPES not POINTS, and remember the more the
> merrier.
>
> As for other types of biometrics, I am not too sure, hopefully
> somebody else can shed some light on those.
>
> - -mike
>
>
> - -----Original Message-----
> From: Felix Cuello [mailto:felix () qodiga com]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 1:27 PM
> To: security-basics () security-focus com
> Subject: Biometric question
>
>
>
> Hello list!
>
>    I will work in a project where phisical security will be based on
>    biometrics, in fact only will be based on fingerprints biometric.
>
>    How secure are fingerprints?, what biometric are more secure?
> (voice,
>    eye, ??? what else).
>
>    I'm not a security expert :-)
>
>    Thanks a lot,
>
>    Felix
>    [my english is bad... please sorry :-)]
>
> - --
> Felix Cuello
> felix () qodiga com
>
> Qodiga/its
> Av.Santa Fe 882 P.13 Of. "E"
> C.P. ABP1059C
> Tel.: (54) 011 - 4312-1698
> Buenos Aires - Argentina
>
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