Apple has been using facial data for security for seven years. You're probably using your fingerprint to unlock at least some of your devices.
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But have you paid with the palm of your hand at Whole Foods yet? Did the TSA scan your face the last time you were at the airport? Although using biometric information like your fingerprint or face can save you a little time, , which introduces a plethora of potential security risks.
Should you give companies and agencies access to your most personal data? I have the scoop, so you can decide for yourself.
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Should you trust big companies with your personal biometric data? Read on to learn more. (St. Petersburg)
Are you about to board a plane?
You've probably used older TSA technology similar to Apple's Face ID. Take a photo and compare it to your ID to make sure it's really you trying to get through security. What you need to know: Once the process is complete, your images will be deleted.
TSA's new touchless ID solution works a little differently. All you have to do is stare into the camera and wait for the agent to give you the green light. Fast and easy! What's the problem?
You will need a U.S. passport and TSA PreCheck to complete this process. You must also be a member of a participating airline's loyalty program. When you check in through the airline's app, you will be asked to select a biometric scan.
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By opting in, you are allowing TSA to add your photo to its cloud-based authentication service. When you approach the camera, the live image and the saved image will match. Both images will be deleted within 24 hours of the flight's departure, the TSA said.
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talk to hands
Whole Foods uses a process similar to the TSA using palm scanning technology. You can link your credit card to your “palm sign” through the Amazon One app. When you scan your hand in-store, the data is compared to your palm signature stored in the Amazon cloud. Once a match is found, you're paid and you're good to go.
Fingerprinting and similar systems are now used virtually everywhere, from security agencies to grocery stores. (Photo by Katherine Frey/Washington Post via Getty Images)
Currently, Amazon says it only stores the mathematical data behind the palm signature, not the actual photo of the hand. This means that hackers cannot use a high-quality photo of your palm to tell who you are.
safety dance
So are these more advanced biometric screens hacker-resistant? It's unlikely that fraudsters will fool your biometric swipe at the airport. Agents will figure it out right away.
Even at Whole Foods, it would be difficult to pay using a palm image. Their system also employs something called “liveness detection,” which also captures movement, depth, and texture.
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But remember, as technology advances, so do criminals. AI deepfakes are already much better than they were just a year ago. Deepfake masks may one day be able to fool facial recognition software, especially if there's no real human standing there to double check.
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The biggest problem I saw was
Let's say you trust a government agency or large company to store this biometric data. That doesn't mean they're immune to data breaches. When handing over all kinds of If you have a large amount of data, it is 100% a target for hackers.
Biometric data cannot escape the scrutiny of the average hacker. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Considering using one of these services, or a similar one? Here's how to protect yourself biometric data:
- Before giving a company or agency access to your biometric data, Consider their reputation. TSA is more reliable than random shopping apps. At a minimum, search your organization or company for the term “data breach.”
- Biometric data whenever possible Strong password, 2FA or Authentication app.
- If you need to upload your biometric data online, First, use a VPN to secure your internet connection — Especially if you're using a public network. This is an additional barrier between you and anyone else out there waiting to steal your files.
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