How do you prove that you are you, and that you are entitled to use a particular information resource? Computer systems authenticate identity and validate access privileges using three basic methods:

• something you know (passwords),
• something you possess (tokens),
• or something you "are" -- generally labelled biometrics.

Biometric methods can be divided into two categories: physiological and behavioral. Implementations of the former include face, eye (retina or iris), finger (fingertip, thumb, finger length or pattern), palm (print or topography), and hand geometry. The latter includes voiceprints and handwritten signatures.

See also:

• National Biometric Test Center, "The Functions of Biometric Identification Devices"

Last modified: 10-May-2005 [RC]