finger vein ID

Here's how Hitachi's system works:
To obtain the pattern for the database record, an individual inserts a finger into an attester terminal containing a near-infared LED (light- emitting diode) light and a monochrome CCD (charge-coupled device) camera. The hemoglobin in the blood absorbs near-infared LED light, which makes the vein system appear as a dark pattern of lines. The camera records the image and the raw data is digitized, certified and sent to a database of registered images. For authentication purposes, the finger is scanned as before and the data is sent to the database of registered images for comparison. The authentication process takes less than two seconds.

Blood vessel patterns are unique to each individual, as are other biometric data such as fingerprints or the patterns of the iris. Unlike some biometric systems, blood vessel patterns are almost impossible to counterfeit because they are located beneath the skin's surface. Biometric systems based on fingerprints can be fooled with a dummy finger fitted with a copied fingerprint; voice and facial characteristic-based systems can be fooled by recordings and high-resolution images. The finger vein ID system is much harder to fool because it can only authenticate the finger of a living person.

Learn more about Biometric Technology

	Identity and Access Management Services, Systems and Technologies: This Security School explores critical topics related to helping security practitioners establish and maintain an effective identity and access management plan.
Exploring authentication methods: How to develop secure systems: Discover authentication options and learn how to implement, maintain and secure methods of authentication, such as biometrics and smartcards to avoid breaches and protect data.
	Future authentication technologies: How to choose the right product: In this Identity and Access Management Security School lesson, Burton Group's Mark Diodati explores innovative and cost-effective user-based authentication technologies.
Identity and access management final exam: Find out how much you learned in Identity and Access Management Security School and the areas where you need to focus more attention.
Secure user authentication: Regulations, implementation and methods: Learn about the FFIEC's mandate, how to choose the right authentication option for diverse user communities and how to implement an authentication strategy.
	Identity and Access Management Services, Systems and Technologies: This Security School explores critical topics related to helping security practitioners establish and maintain an effective identity and access management plan.

Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know. Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com

More resources from around the web: - Hitachi describes the advantages of their finger vein ID technology. - John Dubin explains risks of biometric data and how they can be avoided. - The Guardian reports on a gruesome risk of fingerprint authentication.

FILE EXTENSION AND FILE FORMAT LIST File Extension and File Format List: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

RELATED CONTENT Group to shed light on secure identity management threats Identity management technologies are struggling to keep pace with constantly evolving nature of attacks, according to the Center for Applied Identity... Biometrics project studies ways to combat bank fraud Industry consortium launches effort to see how biometrics could improve customer authentication and battle identity theft. Analyst says iris scanning... Apple iPhone app could boost two-factor IT costs and user acceptance has hindered deployments of two-factor authentication. But a new Apple iPhone application could increase use once...

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary biometric payment  (SearchSecurity.com) Biometric payment is a point of sale technology in which a customer submits biometric data, such as a fingerprint, to authorize the deduction of... electro-optical fingerprint recognition  (SearchSecurity.com)