Vein Patterns Could Replace Fingerprints

Death Metal writes "Companies in Europe have begun to roll out an advanced biometric system from Japan that identifies people from the unique patterns of veins inside their fingers. Finger vein authentication, introduced widely by Japanese banks in the last two years, is claimed to be the fastest and most secure biometric method. Developed by Hitachi, it verifies a person's identity based on the lattice work of minute blood vessels under the skin."

Comments

How about using it as a "username"?

[mlts]

Maybe its me being pedantic, but I consider biometrics something that is intended to replace typing in a username, as opposed to being both pairs of the username/password combo. Ideally, one would have biometrics to ID which user is wanting access, then have a contactless smart card and/or a PIN for the "password" part that confirms the user is whom he or she said they are.

Re:How about using it as a "username"?

[cjfs]

Agreed. Single-factor authentication based on something that's not reissuable is a recipe for failure.

Eventually people will run out of non-compromised fingers ;-)