Biometric Security: The Answer To Our Problems?
Author: Ralph Winn

On October 18, 2006, 26-year-old Houstonian Meghan Whitmore was
happily going about her errands when she ran into a small snag.
It seemed her debit card wasn't working. It got rejected from
the doctor's office and at the grocery store. Nonplussed but
not really worried, Meghan checked her bank account online. She
was shocked to see that she had only seven dollars to her name.
Someone had stolen all her money.

How did this happen? Someone had made four ATM withdrawals at
four different ATMs across the city. Someone not only had her
card information, they had her PIN number. Whitmore was
terrified.

Your PIN number is supposed to be secure. Having a number known
only to yourself is supposed to increase your security, but in
this case, the concept of the PIN number actually complicated
things for Whitmore.

When she called the bank to report the theft, they informed her
that it was not their fault someone had stolen her PIN number.
The bank's security system had worked, they said. To have the
PIN is to mean you are authorized to use it, according to the
bank. They would not refund her money.

Whitmore is now a vocal proponent of using biometric security
to protect people's bank accounts.

"A PIN number is easy to steal," says Whitmore. "All you have
to do is look over someone's shoulder when they make a debit
card purchase. I had never spoken my PIN number out loud or
written it down, but still, someone has stolen it from me. PIN
numbers are not as foolproof as the bank thinks they are.
Biometric security is the only way to be absolutely sure
someone is authorized to make a transaction."

What Is Biometric Security?

The word "biometric" comes form the Greek bios, meaning "life,"
and metron, "measure." A biometric security reader is able to
recognize humans based on intrinsic physical traits. For
example, a biometric reader can read eye retinas or irises,
facial patterns, hand measurements, or fingerprints.

Unlike keys, cards, or number sequences, access through
biometric security cannot be transferred from person to person
unless explicitly authorized.

"It is really hard to steal someone's fingerprints," says
Whitmore. "It's technically possible, but expensive. Your
average criminal would not be able to get past biometric
security measures. We need biometric security at every ATM
machine, point-of-sale vendor, and bank."

Biometric security may not have hit the end-user market just
yet, but you can incorporate biometric security measures into
your own home or business.

Biometric Security: Fingerprint Door Locks

A biometric security reader drives costs down while raising the
level of security. The HandKey II Recognition System biometric
reader can store information from 512 users (standard) up to
35,512 users (networked).

Biometric security access control can be incorporated into any
security system. It is affordable and user-friendly,
recognizing identity and granting access in less than one
second.

The maker of the HandKey II Recognition System is Schlage, one
of the most respected names in the security industry. Their
extensive research, manufacturing, and consulting experience
with biometric security technology makes them ideally qualified
to assist in the security of your home or office.

Biometric Security: Fingerprint Wall Safe

The same technology you use to secure you home or business can
be used on your wall safe. Security Stores sell the fingerprint
wall safe to secure small personal items such a jewelry or
handguns. You can use state-of-the-art biometric security right
in your own home. Even banks aren't this advanced. That's too
bad for Meghan Whitmore.

"I am looking forward to the day you need your fingerprint to
make a purchase or withdrawal," says Whitmore. "Biometric
security is the future."


About The Author: Ralph Winn has over 32 years of experience in
the security industry. Throughout his career, he has developed
cost effective security programs for numerous small, medium,
large commercial and government properties and for many
nationally known corporations. http://www.homesecuritystore.com