NSA uses iris readers to ID network users

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/3859-1.html

By Dawn S. Onley
GCN Staff

MARCH 21 -- Somewhere in the National Security Agency are miniature
desktop cameras that study the irises of NSA workers before theyre
given access to secure networks.

Each Authenticam, from Iridian Technologies Inc. of Moorestown, N.J.,
reads the unique patterns in an iris with a glance from up to 19
inches away before permitting a user to access a system, said David
Johnston, Iridians vice president of marketing. He spoke with GCN
today at the FOSE 2001 conference in Washington.

I know theres been a lot of interest in iris technology for the
Defense Department, Johnston said. Authenticam is 99.9 percent
accurate, more accurate than fingerprinting, passwords or tokens, he
said.

Passwords are easily lost or stolen and pricey to manage, and
fingerprinting is not practical for warfighters in the field whose
prints might become smudged by dirt or other substances, he said.

Exactly who uses the technology at NSA and other specifics of the
contract cannot be divulged because of the security strictures at the
Defense agency, Johnson said. An NSA spokesman, however, confirmed
that his agency uses iris scanning technology and other biometric
devices.

Iridian is also working with systems integrators to incorporate iris
technology into the General Services Administrations governmentwide
Smart Access Common ID Program.

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