Biometric Verification - Complete Guide for User Verification in 2024

As businesses and individuals increasingly rely on online services, traditional methods of verification, such as passwords and security questions, have proven to be vulnerable to fraud and data breaches. Biometric verification—using unique physiological traits such as fingerprints, facial features, or voice recognition—ensures that only the correct individual gains access to sensitive accounts or services. This technology not only provides a higher level of accuracy but also eliminates common security weaknesses like forgotten passwords or identity theft.

In regions like Africa, where digital identity verification is rapidly evolving, biometric verification has proven to be particularly effective in combating fraud.

This comprehensive guide will explore the different types of biometric verification, how they work, and the benefits they provide for user verification processes. We will also dive into how businesses can implement biometric solutions to meet regulatory requirements and improve security while enhancing the user experience.

What is Biometric Verification?

Biometric verification identifies and confirms individuals by analysing their physical or behavioural traits. This approach leverages characteristics like fingerprints, facial structure, and iris patterns. These traits are unique to each person, making it hard for fraudsters to replicate them. 

Unlike passwords or PINs, these features are hard to replicate, making biometric systems secure and reliable. The process involves two main parts: identification and authentication. 

Biometric Verification vs. Biometric Authentication

Biometric verification answers the question, "Who is this person?" It involves collecting a sample, like a fingerprint, and comparing it to a database. The system checks for matches to identify the individual. On the other hand, biometric authentication asks, "Is this person who they claim to be?" It compares the user's current biometric sample to the one stored during registration. This step confirms the identity of someone already known to the system. Understanding this difference is crucial when evaluating biometric systems.

Why is Biometric Verification Important?

Biometric verification offers superior security compared to traditional methods like passwords. Passwords can be forgotten or stolen, but your fingerprint or face is always with you. Biometric systems are also less prone to errors—false positives and negatives are rare. However, no system is foolproof. Biometric data, once compromised, cannot be changed like a password, which poses a unique risk. Despite this, the reliability and convenience of biometrics make them a preferred choice for many applications.

Biometrics play a pivotal role in modern verification systems. They streamline user experiences by reducing the need for passwords or physical IDs. Whether it's unlocking your smartphone or accessing secure facilities, biometrics make the process faster and more efficient. 

Benefits of Biometric Verification

Despite the risks, biometric verification offers significant rewards:

• Enhanced Security: Biometrics provide a high level of security, reducing the risk of unauthorised access. Unlike passwords, biometric traits are difficult to duplicate.
• User Convenience: Biometric systems are easy to use, eliminating the need to remember passwords or carry physical tokens. This convenience enhances user experience.

Biometric verification continues to evolve, offering improved security and convenience. Addressing potential risks and staying informed about legal requirements are key to its successful implementation.

Types of Biometrics Used for Verification

Let’s take a look at some of the types of biometric verification information used today:

1. Facial Recognition

Facial recognition technology analyses facial features to verify identity. It begins with capturing a person's image through a camera. The system then converts this image into a digital format, creating a unique facial map. Algorithms compare this map to stored data to confirm identity. Facial recognition's precision allows it to work effectively in various settings, from security checkpoints to unlocking smartphones.

Use cases:

• Airports utilise facial recognition for quick and secure passenger processing.
• Smartphones incorporate facial unlock features, enhancing user convenience.
• Retailers use it for personalised customer service and theft prevention.

2. Fingerprint Recognition

Fingerprint recognition relies on the unique patterns found on a person's fingertips. This method involves scanning the fingerprint and converting it into a digital template. The system then compares this template to existing records for identity verification. Fingerprints are unique to each individual—even identical twins have different fingerprints—making this method highly reliable.

Use Cases:

• Mobile Devices: Many smartphones use fingerprint sensors for secure access.
• Time and Attendance Systems: Businesses use fingerprint scanners to track employee attendance.
• Banking: ATMs and banking apps use fingerprint recognition for secure transactions.

Fingerprint vs Facial Recognition for Biometric Verification

Two of the most prevalent biometric methods are fingerprint and facial recognition. While fingerprint recognition has been established for longer, recent advancements in facial recognition have made it the preferred option for scalable identity verification.

The proliferation of low-cost image-capturing devices and the increased computing power of GPUs have facilitated the development of accurate and scalable deep-learning algorithms for facial recognition. When used to match subjects to clear reference images, facial recognition software can achieve accuracy scores as high as 99.97% on standard assessments like the NIST’s Facial Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT).

How Biometric Verification Systems Work

Biometric verification systems operate in two primary phases: enrollment and authentication.

a. Enrollment Phase: 

During this phase, a user's biometric data is captured, stored, and encoded into a digital template. This template serves as a reference for future comparisons. For instance, a person might provide a fingerprint or take a selfie, which is then analysed and converted into a unique mathematical representation stored in a secure database. 

Examples of this phase include the government capturing individuals' information for national IDs or passports. 

b. Verification Phase: 

During onboarding, a business can easily connect to existing government databases to verify individual biometric information. 

When a user attempts to verify their identity, the system captures fresh biometric data (such as another fingerprint or selfie) and compares it with the stored template. Advanced algorithms analyse the similarities and determine whether they match within an acceptable threshold. If they match, the system confirms the user's identity.

Practical Use Cases of Biometric Verification

Biometric verification finds application across various industries, enhancing security and user experience. In the aviation industry, biometric verification systems are transforming traditional check-in processes. Many airlines have integrated facial recognition technology into their self-check-in systems, allowing passengers to scan their faces at kiosks and streamline the boarding process. This not only enhances convenience for travellers but also tightens security, as biometric verification helps prevent unauthorised access to restricted areas. Similarly, border security has benefited greatly from the adoption of biometric verification. Governments around the world are implementing fingerprint and facial recognition systems at airports and checkpoints to identify travellers, ensuring only authorised individuals are allowed entry. 

Financial institutions are also leveraging biometric verification to improve security and customer service. During client onboarding, banks use facial recognition technology and ID scanning to verify the identities of new customers. This not only reduces the risk of identity fraud but also speeds up the account setup process, creating a smoother experience for users. Additionally, many banks are adopting biometric systems for transaction authentication, using fingerprint or facial recognition to add an extra layer of security to banking transactions. 

Emerging industries like cryptocurrency and online gambling are also finding innovative ways to utilise biometric verification. In cryptocurrency, biometric technology ensures secure access to digital wallets and trading platforms, protecting users from unauthorised transactions by requiring facial recognition or fingerprint scans for login. This is particularly important in an industry where security is paramount. Similarly, online gambling operators are using biometric verification to confirm player identities and comply with age and location restrictions. 

Performing Biometric Verification With Smile ID

At Smile ID, biometric verification is at the core of our identity authentication process, providing businesses with a secure and reliable means to verify users’ identities. We use a combination of cutting-edge technologies, including facial recognition and liveness detection, to ensure that the person being verified is real, present, and matches their ID.

Our SmartSelfie™ technology is a prime example of how we implement biometric verification. It uses facial recognition to match a user’s selfie to the image on their government-issued ID, ensuring that the person submitting the ID is the same individual. This process is bolstered by active liveness detection, which involves random prompts for users to perform specific head movements or facial gestures to prove they are not using a static image, pre-recorded video, or sophisticated spoofs like 3D masks.

Smile ID's Biometric Solution Suite offers a comprehensive approach to identity verification, addressing the needs of modern businesses for secure, compliant, and user-friendly solutions. The Enrolment, Authentication, and Compare stacks each provide unique capabilities that enhance security, streamline user experiences, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Explore our Biometric Suite to enhance your business's security and compliance. Book a free demo to learn more today.