This complete, technical guide details the principles, methods, technologies, and core ideas used in biometric authentication systems. It explains the definition and measurement of performance and examines the factors involved in choosing between different biometrics. It also delves into practical applications and covers a number of topics critical for successful system integration. These include recognition accuracy, total cost of ownership, acquisition and processing speed, intrinsic and system security, privacy and legal requirements, and user acceptance. The "Guide to Biometrics:" * Debunks myths and candidly confronts problems associated with biometrics research * Details relevant issues in choosing between biometrics, as well as defining and measuring performance * Defines and explains how to measure the performance of both verification and identification systems * Addresses challenges in managing tradeoffs between security and convenience Security and financial administrators, computer science professionals, and biometric systems developers will all benefit from an enhanced understanding of this important technology.

Biometrics is an emerging field devoted to identification of individuals using biological traits, such as those based on retinal or iris scanning, fingerprints, or face recognition. Biometric authentication systems offer advantages over traditional identification systems based on passwords, driver's licenses, or passports. Guide to Biometrics examines the principles, methods, and technologies used in biometric personal identification systems and addresses their security policy aspects. It covers all of the current popular biometric identifiers, namely, finger, face, voice, iris, hand (geometry) and signature. This guide will help readers improve their understanding of this important security technology.

Foreword.- Introduction.- Authentication and biometrics.- The common biometrics.- Other biometrics.- Basic system errors.- Measuring system errors.- Creating biometric databases.- Selecting a biometric.- Tuning and training.- Integrating information.- Thwarting attacks.- APIs, standards, and databases.- A biometric's individuality.- System errors revisited.- Comparing matchers.- What's next?- Index.