| Home | Syllabus | Title Page | Introduction | How Biometrics is used | How Computers Read Biometrics | Issues of Biometrics | Conclusion | Bibliography |
Biometrics, if used correctly, can and should be a valuable tool for information security. However, like the other methods for identifying and authenticating a person it has drawbacks of its own. No system is ever foolproof, and because of that biometrics needs to be used in conjunction with at least one other method. This method is often referred to as two-factor authentication. Requiring the user to either know something else or having something else decreases the chances of type II errors. Also if there is an issue with the biometric scanner it would then be easy to fall back onto a password or a security card. The reason biometrics will never be used by itself, is that is will never be secure enough without other forms. While we may be able to reduce type I and type II errors, it is not a foolprood method. The requirement of another form of authentication gives us another level of security that is a requirement.