Last updated March 2023
Part 3 of our dossier looks at what is known as physiological biometrics, the data that are related to the specific measurements, dimensions and characteristics of your body – for example, your fingerprints or your eye.
But another type of biometric measure can also be used to authenticate identity. Unlike physiological biometrics, behavioural biometrics relates to your personal habits and unique movements. The earliest – and still very commonly used – example of a physiological biometric is your written signature. But advances in technology are allowing us to monitor other personal behaviours and use them to determine we are who we say we are.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common:
Signature dynamics
This takes it beyond just what your signature looks like and instead looks at how you sign. It includes an analysis of the direction and pressure of your pen stroke and combines it with the overall shape of the signature to verify your ID.
Voice
The unique patterns in your voice can be analyzed and compared to an example voiceprint to confirm your ID. This is already used to access some online banking services and automated customer service phone lines.
Keystroke dynamics
As well as how you write with a pen, biometric data can also come from the manner and rhythm in which you type on a keyboard.
So how does it work?
Keystroke dynamics refers to the method of verifying a user’s identity based on the nature and rhythm of their keystrokes. Everyone has a unique method of typing on a keyboard. This can range from how much pressure is asserted on the keys to common mistakes, how fast you type and which set of number keys you use. There are many ways an error can be detected, too. For instance, if there are disparities between how long a key is held down or the timing between finishing a word and pressing the space bar. These errors can help distinguish between two people and therefore be more firmly attached to an identity.
However, while keystroke dynamics does not consider external mitigating factors, such as tiredness, mood or injury, it continues to track user habits over time. This means that if the nature of your typing was to change, it has the flexibility to recognise that it is still you typing.
Gait
Gait analysis looks at the unique way you walk, which is determined by a set of personal characteristics, including your age, height and weight. Special cameras can be set up to analyze people’s walking styles and identify them.
Gestures
Other physical human gestures, usually from the face or hands, can also be used to identify you. Some smartphones today use facial or smile recognition to control unlocking the device.
While biometric security is a valuable tool in authenticating identity, it alone is not enough for strong security. Three-factor authentication, which involves something you know (password), something you are (biometric) and something you have (token) is the best way to prevent unauthorised access.
Interested to know more about biometrics? Check out some of our other posts on the topic here:
Touchless Travel: Airport Biometrics
Where might I encounter biometrics in everyday life?