The Future of Security: Biometrics and Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Posted June 26, 2022

Cybercrime(also known as Computer Crimes). What is it? What is considered Cybercrime? What types of crimes fall under the Cybercrimes category? First. Cybercrimes is any criminal act committed by a Cyber Criminal by way of a computer, and/or network, and/or smart device. Cybercriminals commit Cybercrimes for personal gain. Cyber Crook Criminals(as I lovingly like to call them) commit these crimes by either disabling and/or damaging their focus target device or network system; use of malware infection; and/or hijacking the system by way of ransomware cyberattack. One thing you should remember about the Cyber Crook Criminal is their motive. Their motives are strictly financial. These financial motives drive their financial goals by any means necessary. In addition, do not assume that Cyber Criminal Crooks only pursue businesses. Cyber Criminal Crooks do not care if you are a business or an individual! As long as you have something they want they are coming after you. Cybercrimes range from the following: 

•	Email fraud
•	Internet fraud
•	Identity theft
•	Credit Card Fraud
•	Banking Fraud or Bank Robbery
•	Gift Card Scams
•	Illegal Downloading
•	Espionage
•	Child Exploitation and Pornography
•	Child Kidnappings via Chatroom and/or social media Luring
•	Scams
•	Cyberterrorism

An article published by Tech Target author Kate Bush, ‘What is Cybercrime?’ stated “Cybercriminals may target an individual's private information or corporate data for theft and resale”(Brush et al., 2021). The bottom line, Cybercrimes are increasing. The way of the traditional street criminal is dissipating. The new Criminal Crook is the Smart Educated Cyber Crook. Also, once these types of crimes are committed, the likelihood of successful prosecution for these crimes is quite challenging. DO NOT count on your local police department to assist you with being victimized by a Cyber Criminal. The truth, our local police are not Cyber trained; lack resources to provide them with the necessary support on how to handle these types of cases; and obtaining personal jurisdiction over these Cyber Crook Criminals is impossible. Why? Here is an example. Your Cybercrime occurs in the United States; however, the Cyber Crook is located in another Country. 

As of today, no global intergovernmental authority unified system exists to handle and/or response to these types of crimes. In addition, the laws in the United States are antiquated in comparison to the technology advancements worldwide. “In the analog world, a crime will result in investigations, arrests, and punishment. The world of Cybercrime is more complicated. There are too many cybersecurity incidents and too little law enforcement resources available to keep up with the crime. To add more complexity to the issue, there are jurisdictional boundaries that prevent criminals from being prosecuted”(Prosegur, 2020).

References

Brush, K., Rosencrans, L., & Cobb, M. (2021, September 23). What is cybercrime? definition from search security. Search Security. Retrieved June 26, 2022, from https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/cybercrime
 

Prosegur, C. (2020, July 16). Challenges of prosecuting cybercrimes: Cybersecurity law. Cipher Prosegur. Retrieved June 26, 2022, from https://cipher.com/blog/prosecuting-cybercrime-challenges/

Sabitov, A. R., Sabitov, R., *, N., 21, C. 4.0 P. on O., 25, J. P. on O., 22, L. P. on O., 22, A. P. on O., 13, A. I. P. on J., Legezo, B. L. D., Hultquist Brian Bartholomew Suguru Ishimaru Vitaly Kamluk Seongsu Park Yusuke Niwa Motohiko Sato, J., Preuss Denis Legezo Costin Raiu Kurt Baumgartner Dan Demeter Yaroslav Shmelev, M., Kwiatkowski Maher Yamout Noushin Shabab Pierre Delcher Félix Aime Giampaolo Dedola Santiago Pontiroli, I., Bestuzhev Costin Raiu Pierre Delcher Brian Bartholomew Boris Larin Ariel Jungheit Fabio Assolini, D., Chan, I. K. A. K. J. R. K., Novikova, S. S. Y., Amr, A., Shcherbel, Y. N. S., Galov, D., Chebyshev, V., & Raiu Marco Preuss Kurt Baumgartner Dan Demeter Ivan Kwiatkowski, C. (2021, May 13). Russian-speaking cybercrime evolution: What changed from 2016 to 2021. Securelist English Global securelistcom. Retrieved June 26, 2022, from https://securelist.com/russian-speaking-cybercrime-evolution-2016-2021/104656/

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Biometric Authentication & Data Security: Understanding Modern Technology & Best Practices Authentication Stipulations

June 28, 2022

As biometric authentication becomes an integral part of cybersecurity and digital identity verification, understanding how biometric data is captured, stored, and protected is critical to maintaining security and privacy. Biometric authentication relies on unique biological and behavioral characteristics such as fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, and voice patterns. However, safeguarding biometric data from security threats is just as important as the technology itself.  

How Biometric Data is Processed?

When biometric data is captured by a biometric device, it begins in an analog format that cannot be directly processed by a standard computer. The raw biometric data undergoes digitization, converting it into a machine-readable digital format. However, unlike standard digital files, biometric data is highly sensitive and requires advanced security measures at every stage of processing.  

The backend system, often part of an organization’s security infrastructure, is responsible for handling and securing biometric data. This backend operates within the data access layer, either as software, cloud-based storage, or physical hardware. Security must be embedded into every layer of the biometric system, from device authentication to data storage and access control.  

Four Key Functions of Biometric Storage

Once authentication is initiated, biometric storage systems follow four essential steps to process and manage biometric data securely:  

1️⃣ Image Capture – The biometric device scans the fingerprint, iris, face, or voice pattern of the user.  
2️⃣ Feature Extraction – The system identifies distinctive, unique characteristics of the captured biometric sample.  
3️⃣ Template Creation & Storage – A mathematical representation (template) of the biometric data is created and stored securely.  
4️⃣ Comparison & Matching – When a user attempts authentication, the system compares the new biometric input against the stored template.  

Unlike traditional authentication methods, biometric templates cannot be reverse-engineered into their original form, adding an additional layer of security.  

The Importance of Secure Biometric Data Storage

Biometric data is unique to every individual, meaning once compromised, it cannot be changed like a password. Because of its permanent nature, biometric data storage requires advanced protection measures to prevent breaches and unauthorized access.  

Modern biometric storage solutions utilize one-way encryption and encoding systems, ensuring that biometric templates remain secure and cannot be extracted in their original form. The risk of cyber threats targeting biometric databases has increased significantly, making robust security protocols a top priority.  

Best Practices for Securing Biometric Data  

To safeguard biometric data from unauthorized access, breaches, and cyberattacks, organizations should implement the following security measures:  

🔹 Data Encryption – Encrypt biometric data at rest (when stored) and in transit (when being transmitted between devices and backend servers). Advanced encryption algorithms such as AES-256 and homomorphic encryption enhance data protection.  

🔹 Restricted Access Control – Only authorized users should have access to biometric databases. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be required for accessing sensitive biometric systems.  

🔹Zero Trust Security Model – Organizations should implement a Zero Trust architecture, ensuring that no user, device, or system is trusted by default.  

🔹 Deactivating Unused Services – Any unnecessary services on biometric database servers should be disabled to minimize security vulnerabilities.  

🔹 Use of Secure Cloud-Based Storage – Organizations adopting biometric cloud authentication should ensure that biometric data is stored in privacy-compliant, encrypted cloud environments.  

🔹Blockchain for Biometric Security – Decentralized biometric authentication using blockchain technology can eliminate the risk of centralized data breaches by distributing encrypted biometric templates across multiple nodes.  

Why Biometric Data Security Matters

As biometric authentication becomes the future of cybersecurity, securing biometric data storage, encryption, and access controls is non-negotiable. The risk of biometric identity theft, cyber fraud, and unauthorized surveillance is growing, making it essential for individuals and organizations to adopt state-of-the-art security measures.  

Ensuring biometric security is integrated into every stage of authentication, from data collection to backend storage, is key to protecting sensitive personal information in the digital age.  

🔹 Stay Secure. Stay Informed. Stay CyberSafe. 🔹  

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"Social engineering is the term used for a broad range of malicious activities accomplished through human interactions. It uses psychological manipulation to trick users into making security mistakes or giving away sensitive information"(Channel , 2019).

Reference:
Channel , I. P. E. (2019, December 29). What is Social Engineering: Attack Techniques & Prevention Methods: Imperva. Learning Center. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://www.imperva.com/learn/application-security/social-engineering-attack/