London calling: phone biometrics should be handled with care
Current and future uses of biometric data and technologies have been under review in the UK, with the British Parliament hearing views from security experts. Biometric technology identifies individuals automatically by using biological characteristics; digital consumers have been told that biometrics will be an effective alternative path for security measures against password theft and forced access to sensitive information. Whether it's a student's bank account information or a mobile device loaded with confidential enterprise data, the toll of identity theft has sent researchers on campuses and in technology companies looking for safe authentication methods. How reliable is biometrics as applied to mobile devices? How well are vendors implementing this technology? In the UK, a Science and Technology Committee in August announced an inquiry into the use and collection of biometric data back in August. The inquiry focus was on "the potential use and collection of biometric data and whether...