Killing the Need for Passwords With Biometrics

Summary

The video explores the revolutionary potential of biometric authentication technologies, focusing on how startups are addressing the security challenges of passwords. Highlighting innovations like eye vein pattern recognition, voice and facial recognition, and even heartbeat analysis, the script demonstrates how these technologies are set to replace traditional login methods. Companies like Iverifi and Nymi are leading the charge, with applications in mobile banking, enterprise security, and e-commerce. By making identity verification seamless and more secure, the video envisions a future where accessing devices and services is as simple as wearing a wristband or having your voice recognized.

Takeaways

• 😀 Biometrics is revolutionizing mobile technology by offering more secure, convenient ways to authenticate users beyond passwords and PINs.
• 😀 Vein patterns in the whites of your eyes are as unique as fingerprints and can be used for secure authentication, even with regular phones.
• 😀 Traditional biometrics like iris scanning require infrared light and special cameras, which most phones do not have, making other biometric solutions more practical.
• 😀 The company Iverifi uses a unique approach that allows biometric authentication with an ordinary phone, speeding up the process and enhancing security.
• 😀 Iverifi's breakthrough has attracted investments from major companies like Samsung, Sprint, and Wells Fargo, fueling its growth.
• 😀 Iverifi aims to target enterprises and mobile banking services, industries where security breaches are a constant concern.
• 😀 By 2019, it was predicted that 5.5 billion people would use biometric authentication on mobile and wearable devices, underscoring the growth of this technology.
• 😀 MasterCard has tested biometric authentication with voice and facial recognition in e-commerce, showcasing a growing interest in these technologies for secure transactions.
• 😀 Bionym, a startup based in Toronto, developed a wristband called Nymi that uses a person’s unique heartbeat as a biometric identifier.
• 😀 The Nymi wristband offers a high level of security by using the unique peaks and valleys in your heartbeat waveform, tying the device to your active state and enabling seamless authentication for tasks like unlocking a phone.

Q & A

What is biometrics and how is it used for security?

Biometrics is the science of measuring physical or behavioral characteristics of the human body to establish identity. It is used for security by replacing traditional methods like passwords, PINs, and usernames, which can be difficult to remember and unsafe. Biometrics such as fingerprint patterns, eye vein patterns, and facial recognition are used to verify identity.

How does iVerifi's biometric technology work?

iVerifi uses the unique vein patterns in the whites of your eyes to verify identity. These patterns are as distinct as fingerprints, and iVerifi's technology works with an ordinary phone, without the need for infrared cameras that are required for iris scans.

What sets iVerifi's technology apart from traditional biometric methods?

Unlike traditional iris scans that require infrared light and special cameras, iVerifi's technology can use an ordinary phone. This makes it faster and more accessible while still offering a high level of security.

Who has invested in iVerifi and why is it gaining attention?

iVerifi has caught the attention of major companies such as Samsung, Sprint, and Wells Fargo. These companies invested in iVerifi because of its innovative approach to mobile security, particularly in industries where securing data and access is critical.

What markets is iVerifi targeting for its biometric technology?

iVerifi is targeting two key markets: enterprises (where big companies seek to secure access to their networks) and mobile banking or mobile financial services (to enhance the security of transactions and data access).

How is the use of biometric authentication expected to evolve by 2019?

By 2019, it is expected that 5.5 billion people will use biometric authentication on mobile and wearable devices, signaling a significant shift in how people access secure systems and services.

What is MasterCard's approach to biometric authentication?

MasterCard has been experimenting with biometric authentication, testing an app that uses voice and facial recognition for e-commerce transactions. They have also invested in Bionym, a startup focused on biometric security.

What is the Nymi wristband and how does it work?

The Nymi wristband, developed by the Toronto-based startup Bionym, uses a person's unique heartbeat pattern as a biometric identifier. It unlocks devices like phones by reading the user's ECG (electrocardiogram), providing a seamless and secure method of authentication.

Why is heartbeat considered a secure biometric for authentication?

Heartbeat is considered a secure biometric because each person's heart waveform, which includes distinct peaks and valleys, is unique. Since the heartbeat is active and persistent, it provides a reliable and secure method for continuous identity verification.

How does the Nymi wristband improve the user experience?

The Nymi wristband enhances user experience by simplifying everyday activities. With this technology, users can unlock phones, log into accounts, or check into flights seamlessly, just by wearing the wristband and verifying their heartbeat. This reduces the need for passwords and traditional authentication methods.