The Fingerprint Authentication Strikes Back

While facial recognition is gaining traction as a reliable means of authentication, fingerprint remains predominant among the types of biometrics commonly used. Often criticized in terms of security, fingerprint-related technologies are being improved to enhance trust of such means during authentication process.

Second-generation fingerprint recognition that cannot be forged in smartphone

The COVID-19 is changing the technological landscape of the biometric market, in particular since various facial recognition sensors do not work for users wearing a mask. In this regard, second-generation fingerprint recognition sensors are getting popular as means of biometric recognition of smartphones.

When the first generation needed to capture the entire fingerprint at once to authenticate the user, the second generation is a very small sensor that has been developed to a level where it can recognize accurately only a part of the fingerprint. In this regard, the low recognition accuracy that was one of the weaknesses of first-generation fingerprint recognition sensors, has been improved by applying an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm. In particular, the AI ​​algorithm based on deep learning help distinguish whether a fingerprint is made by real human skin or an artificial material such as rubber or silicone, enhancing protection against forgery.

One of the characteristics of the second-generation fingerprint recognition sensor is the ‘Under Display’ method in which the fingerprint sensor is placed under the display. Since the display is placed between the finger and the fingerprint sensor, a separate technology is required to increase the recognition accuracy. Optical fingerprint sensors that take pictures of fingerprints with a camera has to focus at a very short distance to take a fingerprint, and then only separates the fingerprint image after removing noise such as circuit patterns of the display. The ultrasonic fingerprint sensor must pass through the display to accurately recognize the fingerprint pattern underneath. Such technology is being increasingly adopted in new smartphones.

Source: https://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20210820/108630746/1

Fingerprint serving as a digital signature by insurance companies

With the increase of non-face-to-face insurance sales due to the COVID-19 outbreak, insurance companies are increasingly introducing biometric-based digital signatures using fingerprints instead of physical signatures for identification purposes. It is expected that the ‘paperless’ insurance culture, which replaces paper documents with digital documents, is expected to spread further.

A variety of Korean insurance companies have recently made announcements related to the adoption of biometric digital signature. Among them, the insurance branch of a holding plans to introduce a fingerprint authentication signature system using a smartphone in the fourth quarter of 2021. As a result of self-testing, it was found that convenience and efficiency were improved in the insurance subscription stage.

Another leading insurer also recently started working on the deployment of a biometric signature and authentication solutions. In this regard, it is planning to operate a biometric authentication-based digital signature service through a financial server method linked to the Korea Financial Telecommunications & Clearings Institute within this year.

The use of fingerprint authentication in simplifying the non-face-to-face subscription process in the insurance industry has been made possible thanks to the amendment of the Commercial Act in November 2018. The latter should open the door to further application of fingerprint authentication methods that will not only increase the convenience of insurance consumers, but also reduce the hassle at work places. In this regard, life insurance planners will no longer have to go through the process of obtaining written consent from the contractor or the insured individually. In particular, as written consent is replaced by digital documents, the burden of storage or loss will be reduced compared to the legacy system relying on the scan and storage of the image after signing the application forms.

Source: https://asiae.co.kr/article/2021081909355086120

Our view: with the COVID 19 outbreak, the world is increasingly moving to a non-face-to-face environment involving users to get access to services from their devices. In this perspective, companies are constantly looking for ways for maintaining the quality of their services while ensuring the security of their consumers. Fingerprint authentication offers here a convenient way for their users to get access to their services online. That said, due to the risk of fingerprint alteration, the adoption of other biometric solutions has increased significantly. Despite the emergence of new means of authentication, fingerprint recognition remains predominant and its use is nurtured as it is being combined with other technologies such as AI, increasing accuracy during authentication process. Eventually, while big tech players such as Apple were betting on facial recognition, its seems that they are looking for reimplementing fingerprint recognition-related technologies in devices, confirming that fingerprint recognition is here to stay!