News and insight into biometric identification and authentication

With passwords’ obsolescence new security measures show up

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Passwords have become a regular and often frustrating part of the average American’s life, according to a Cnet News story.

They have also proven to be obsolete as the human brain is not wired for such memorization and the software used to change algorithms used for password encryption has remained the same over the past ten years.

What is just now starting to come about in response to this are a number of services and new technologies vying to assist with or take the place of the many passwords people use each day.


Two methods that are continuing to grow, but at a slow rate due to cost, are biometrics and tokens. Tokens most often work by adding an additional layer security by giving the user a device which will supply a unique code to be entered in addition to the user name and password.

As well, biometrics such as fingerprint and iris scanners or voice recognition are considered very secure, however, implementation costs of these and tokens are currently too high for wide-spread use.

There also is software that contains all of one’s usernames and passwords that requires only a single password to access them to secured online sites of a similar nature, there have been many services designed to relieve the need for remembering passwords.

Additionally there are graphical authentication methods being developed that involve a user clicking on specific pictures or sometimes drawing one and location based authentication which require a user to be logging in from the same computer each time for access.

Read the full story here [end] 

Discount code website www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk just conducted a flash poll that found 72% of Brits in favor of contactless technology in all supermarket stores.

The poll, which drew 1,052 participants, was conducted in reaction to (The Co-operative Food’s recent decision to launch a contactless payment pilot in 100 of its stores)[http://www.contactlessnews.com/2010/07/14/uk-grocery-chain-rolls-out-contactless-payment-trial], as well as the site’s recent online affiliation with several of the UK’s largest supermarket chains.

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CAEN RFID announced availability of its newest addition to the easy2read family with the ultra high frequency desktop Slate RFID reader. It features integrated circular polarized antenna for short to medium range applications, such as point-of-sales, document tracking, RFID programming stations, and access control.

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Digital Identification Solutions in conjunction with Max Event Technology has developed a hardware and software solution for tracking attendee participation and sales lead retrieval at trade show events across North America.

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An UConn computer with the names and Social Security Numbers of more than 10,000 university applicants was stolen, according to a local news report.

The computer, stolen from an IT storage cabinet at university’s West Hartford campus, had applicant files ranging from 2004 through July 30. UConn officials are still investigating the theft, which was discovered on Aug. 3.

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China’s GYRFID has announced the release of its new ISO14443A Mifare 1K/ Mifare 4K/ Mifare Ultralight multi-function contactless card.

The 13.56Mhz, 512bit contactless card is suitable for public transportation, payment systems, logistics, e-ticketing and more, according to GYRFID, and measures 86mm by 54mm, with a thickness of 0.84mm.  

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A new Entrust mobile study reveals the need for effective security solutions in mobile phones is greater than ever. According to the data, most mobile applications have a limited functionality when it comes to overall security.

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