Inside enables bio-metrics for NFC

2/4/2011 4:57 PM EST

One more vendor for NFC solutions.
Each tag can be unique from fabrication. But involving the fingerprint does add more security.
Seems that NFC is being used mainly for paying purchases and ticketing but... how about other applications? Anyone?

2/6/2011 12:22 AM EST

NFC seems to be the perfect choice for payment. However, I wonder if the solution is standardized? (i.e. it is not vendor-dependent)? Just imagine your NFC-enabled phone can only pay at a few stores and not many others.

2/6/2011 1:32 AM EST

t.alex has it the problem squarely on the head. Several attempts have been made using different approaches. Each party is trying to figure out how they can get the most out of the transaction fees, so there is a disparity in communication protocols, transaction terminals, and NFC methods.

The problem is compounded by trying to prevent potential hacking by identity thieves...even though most credit card and payment fraud usually involves an inside connection (no pun or offense intended to Inside Secure).

2/6/2011 5:40 AM EST

kdboyce, I am quite surprised there is no common standard yet for such a long time. NFC technology itself is mature enough and still waiting to be deployed worldwide.

2/6/2011 2:31 PM EST

If a person need to check the finger print at the time of purchase, he is supposed to touch the fingerprint scanner, then how come the technology is named contactless? I would also say that there is still not standard for person identification which can be commonly adapted.

2/7/2011 11:51 AM EST

Security is no doubt the main concern of eWallet. Fingerprint recognition seemingly is the choice of secured eWallet. More security may also mean a difficulty for the owner to deliver cash to the retailer. What if my finger was cut and had a bandaid on it?

What I don't get from the article is what the fingerprint technology has to do with nanotechnology and bio-metrics. Any further information may help.

2/7/2011 12:46 PM EST

This approach is severely flawed and will almost certainly cause you biometric identity to be compromised. Currently identity thieves hacking into or snooping POS systems only capture credit card numbers and your name and address. The damage is usually limited and fraudulent charges are generally canceled without too much trouble. However this system will now allow hackers capture your biometric identity (one you can't change). Every time you use your card your fingerprint is scanned and sent "in the clear" over a network and is stored at least temporary on a PC that has little or no security.

The only secure biometrics approach is to do both capture and matching on card. Otherwise you might as well publish your fingerprints on-line.

2/7/2011 4:21 PM EST

There are steps you can take that ensure security and authorize valid / legal transaction (like storing authenticating signatures on the cloud) but this raises a whole lot of can of worms on privacy. I am sure there are ways to store one's biometric data in their handhelds and encode it during NFC for authentication. Standardization is clearly needed in this area.

I abhor the idea of storing one's biometric signatures on the cloud including POS systems (a good majority of them are already in the cloud, albeit private). We have already heard of many examples where people's personal data including social security information have been hacked. The purpose of biometrics was precisely to avoid such break-in's so I would hate to see an alternate system evolve with the same weaknesses.

Dr. MP Divakar

2/7/2011 4:45 PM EST

i was watching a movie where the fingerprints were copied. How can thye make sure that noone can copy the original fingerprints?