Instead of having to use a series of passwords and numbers, users will be able to log on to their bank accounts by placing one of their fingers into a scanner. Blood vessel patterns are unique to each individual, as are other biometric data such as fingerprints or the patterns of the iris.
Unlike some biometric systems, blood vessel patterns are almost impossible to counterfeit because they are located beneath the skin’s surface Biometric systems based on fingerprints can be fooled with a dummy finger fitted with a copied fingerprint; voice and facial characteristic-based systems can be fooled by recordings and high-resolution images. Vein patterns are established in the womb and remain stable for most of a person’s life.
The finger vein ID system is thought to be a more secure technology than checking fingerprints. It is much harder to fool because it can only authenticate the finger of a living person. Only a living finger is accepted by the scanner.
Near-infrared light is transmitted through the finger and partially absorbed by hemoglobin in the veins to capture a unique finger vein pattern profile, which is then matched with a pre-registered profile to verify individual identity.
With the increasing use of smartphones for online shopping, management of private data, etc. in recent years, smartphone transactions have increasingly become the target of crime. Conventional smartphone personal identification methods such as passwords and fingerprint however continue to carry the risk of compromise and spoofing.
Hitachi recently announced the development of highly-accurate finger vein authentication technology using the camera commonly integrated in the standard smartphone. This technology will enable the use of biometric authentication using finger vein patterns to be available as personal identification method for smartphone transactions such as online shopping, providing higher security and accuracy as well as preventing unauthorized use. (Floro Mercene)