SecuGen Peripheral User Guide
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Before You Begin
Biometrics Overview
Biometrics is an automated method of recognizing a person based on physical or behavioral characteristics.
Biometric information that can be used to accurately identify people includes fingerprint, voice, face, iris, handwriting,
and hand geometry.
There are two key functions offered by a biometric system. One method is
identification
, a “one-to-many” matching
process in which a biometric sample is compared sequentially to a set of stored samples to determine the closest
match. The other is
verification
, a “one-to-one” matching process in which the biometric system checks previously
enrolled data for a specific user to verify whether that individual is who he or she claims to be. The verification
method provides the best combination of speed and security, especially where multiple users are concerned, and
requires a user ID or other identifier for direct matching.
With an increasing reliance on online technology and other shared resources, the information age is quickly
revolutionizing the way transactions are initiated and completed. Business transactions of all types are increasingly
being handled online and remotely. This unprecedented growth in electronic transactions has underlined the need for
a faster, more secure, and more convenient method of user verification than passwords can provide.
Using biometric identifiers offers several advantages over traditional and current methods. This is because only
biometric authentication is based on the identification of an intrinsic part of a human being. Tokens such as smart
cards, magnetic stripe cards, and physical keys, can be lost, stolen, duplicated, or left behind; passwords can be
forgotten, shared, hacked or unintentionally observed by a third party. By eliminating all of these potential trouble
spots, only biometric technology can provide the security and convenience needed for today’s complex electronic
landscape.
Advantages of Using Fingerprints
The advantages of using fingerprints include widespread public acceptance, convenience, and reliability. It takes little
time and effort to acquire one’s fingerprint with a fingerprint identification device, and so fingerprint recognition is
considered among the least intrusive of all biometric verification techniques. Ancient officials used thumbprints to seal
documents thousands of years ago, and law enforcement agencies have been using fingerprint identification since
the late 1800s. Fingerprints have been used so extensively and for so long, there is a great accumulation of scientific
data supporting the idea that no two fingerprints are alike.
About SecuGen
SecuGen (
) provides biometric solutions for physical and network security employing advanced
fingerprint recognition technology. The company’s comprehensive product line includes quality optical fingerprint
sensors and peripherals, software, and development kits used for a variety of innovative applications including
Internet, enterprise network and desktop security, physical access control, time and attendance management, and
financial and medical records control. SecuGen patented products feature the industry’s best warranty and are
renowned for their accuracy, reliability and versatility. Based in Silicon Valley, SecuGen has been serving the
biometric community since 1998 and is an active member of the Biometrics Consortium (
), the
BioAPI Consortium (
), and the International Biometrics & Identification Association (IBIA)
).
