Credit cards, library cards, banking cards, user names and passwords,
and even car keys all exist for one purpose: to allow an
individual to prove that he is who he says he is, that he has the right
to perform the transaction he is trying to perform.
Identity theft consists in one person
successfully masquerading as another in
order to steal, primarily by getting hold of user names, passwords, or
plastic cards or the
identification numbers on them.
How can identity theft be stopped? In this article, Steven
Johnson examines the use of biometrics – specifically the use of
fingerprints – to
replace plastic cards and usernames and passwords.
Johnson introduces the reader to DigitalPersona, a company which has
already designed the hardware and software to use fingerprints for
identification. In fact, DigitalPersona has already successfully
marketed its product, although whether it – or a system like it – will
universally replace current ID systems is a question yet to be answered.
The consumer would be able to purchase goods using the
fingerprint identification system by providing his name and by placing his right
index finger on a small scanner. If the attached computer
successfully matches the name with the fingerprint, the purchase goes
through. By extension, the system could be used for opening
doors, accessing bank accounts, entering computer sites, or any other
computer-linked security system.
Steven Johnson points out that the use of fingerprints as cyber-ID
comes at a time when their use in court is being challenged. He
points out that no one has actually proven that every individual’s
fingerprint is unique; it has merely been assumed. No doubt the
outcome of research into the uniqueness of fingerprints would have an
impact on both biometric and criminal identification but, until such
time as fingerprints are discredited, he suggests that this may be our
best hope of stopping identity theft.
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