Computer Security Trends

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Computer Security TrendsEnforcing Digital Security via User Authentication

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In our day-to-day technical support for Calgary companies, one of the most common I.T. requests is the password reset.



The simple text password is one of the most basic forms of authentication. There are, however, many other ways to authenticate access to a resource.

In this article we discuss computer security trends.



Authentication is used to

• verify the user’s identity

• to control access to the resources

• to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the system, and

• to store system logs about users’ activities.



There are two basic modes of authentication:

• Verification (a 1-to-1 comparison)

• Identification (a 1-to-many comparison)



There are 3 basic authentication methods:

• Something we know (password, key sequence etc.)

• Something we have (token, smartcard etc.)

• Something we are (biometrics – fingerprints, eye scan etc.)



However, passwords can be stolen or tokens can be lost.

Therefore, enter biometrics.



Biometric authentication is a process of analysis of someone’s physical characteristics, or behavioral aspects, in order to prove the person’s identity.



The phrase biometrics comes from the Greek language: bio (= life) and metric (= to measure).

A well-known concept for biometrics is the use of fingerprints for personal identification, at a police station for example.



A good biometric method should possess the following 3 properties:

• Broadness: almost all people should have the characteristic.

• Stability: the characteristic should not change or mutate.

• Exclusiveness: the characteristic of each person should be unique.



The biometric authentication can be completed in 2 ways:

• Physical characteristics recognition –based on some physical feature for identification and authentication, like fingerprints.

• Behavioral characteristic recognition –based on some dynamic characteristics, such as keyboard typing, writing, or a hand signature.



Common biometric technologies are:

• Face biometrics

• Fingerprint biometrics

• Eye biometrics

• Hand geometry biometrics

• Signature biometrics

• Voice biometrics



Less commonly used biometric technologies:

• Keystroke dynamics

• Vein recognition

• Body odor measurement

• Palm-print

• Gait recognition

• Ear shape

• DNA recognition



These are just some of the biotechnologies that we can expect to commonly see in the future.


Computer Security Trends

Technology