Anil K. Jain and S. Prabhakar and Arun Ross
November, 1998
Authentication and encryption are crucial to network security. Public key cryptography provides a secure way to exchange information but designing a high security authentication system still remains an open problem. Complex passwords are easy to forget while simple passwords are easily guessed by unauthorized persons. Several of the biometric characteristics of an individual are unique and do not change over time. These properties make biometrics well suited for authentication. Authentication systems based on fingerprints, voice, iris, and hand geometry exist for applications such as passport control, forensics, automatic teller machines, driver license, and border control. With the increasing growth of the Internet, there is a need to restrict access to sensitive data on the Web to authorized users. We have developed a prototype system which uses hand geometry to authenticate users to restrict access to web pages. Initial evaluation of the prototype system is encouraging. Similar techniques can be used to authenticate people for e-commerce applications.
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