Combating fraud and theft at every level of business is never-ending, but a powerful ally has emerged, and it’s one that’s – literally – at our fingertips.

Claude Langley, Regional Sales Manager, Extended Access Technologies, HID, a worldwide player in identity security says: “Fingerprints have been used by law-enforcement agencies for more than a century but are now being combined with digital technology and recognition techniques in a variety of applications.”

Fingerprints were first used studied at the University of Bologna in 1686, and first used in law-enforcement in 1892, when police in Argentina used a bloody fingerprint on a doorframe to identify a criminal. That year many police departments around the world started keeping fingerprint records. 

This is especially important, he notes, when the threat of fraud such as identity theft is greater than ever. He points to statistics from the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) which found that impersonation fraud increased by 356% from April 2022 to April 2023.

Langley says: “Several factors make fingerprints one of the most widely used methods for biometric authentication: speed, ease of use, high level of accuracy and cost-effectiveness. It’s why a survey published in Payments Journal found that 70% of global consumers have used fingerprint biometrics.

He explains: “Firstly, they’re universal, meaning almost everyone has them. Secondly, each person’s fingerprint is unique and distinguishable, making it an excellent identifier.

Fingerprints offer several advantages over other methods of access control. Unlike some access-control cards they can’t be copied, lost, stolen or lots.

“Fingerprints are reasonably stable and permanent, remaining consistent over time. They’re also easily collectible, as they can be acquired, measured and processed with ease.” 

Fingerprints are also defendable, meaning they can be protected from abuse, misuse, theft, imitation and substitution. When combined with recognition techniques, fingerprints offering accuracy, speed, scalability and ease of use across various applications.”

A fingerprint biometric system consists of several components which work together to make an effective solution.

The process begins with the fingerprint sensor, specifically designed for the capture and preliminary processing of fingerprint data. A biometric algorithm is then used to extract data from the fingerprint, which includes details like ridge endings, ridge bifurcations, ridge islands, minutiae orientation, and various measurements.

A presentation attack detection (PAD) technique can also be implemented during the fingerprint capture to verify the authenticity of the fingerprint, confirming that that it originates from a living person.

If the predetermined criteria are satisfied, the digital fingerprint dataset is then securely stored as a record known as a template within a cryptographically protected storage enclave.

When a matching operation is required, the presented fingerprint undergoes a re-evaluation for liveness, and the corresponding template is retrieved from the secure storage for the matching process to take place.