Overview
This lecture explains biometric and hardware-based authentication methods, their security benefits, implementation details, and their importance in multi-factor authentication systems.
Biometric Authentication
- Biometric authentication uses unique physiological characteristics (e.g., fingerprints, iris, face) to identify individuals.
- Fingerprint scanners in mobile devices capture a unique pattern using optical sensors for authentication.
- Biometric data should never be stored directly; instead, it is hashed to protect user privacy.
- Biometrics are inherently tied to an individual, making them difficult to change if compromised.
- Biometric authentication is less shareable than passwords, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
- Physical spoofing (e.g., fake fingerprints) is possible, but generally harder than sharing passwords.
- Other biometric methods include iris scans, facial recognition, gait detection, and voice recognition.
Examples of Biometric Systems
- Windows Hello is a biometric system supporting fingerprint, iris, and facial recognition using color and infrared cameras for added security.
Hardware-Based Authentication: U2F Security Keys
- U2F (Universal Second Factor) is a secure second factor authentication standard using hardware security keys.
- Developed by Google, Yubico, and NXP, and standardized by the FIDO Alliance.
- Security keys generate a unique public/private key pair per site at registration, binding the site’s identity to the key.
- Privacy is enhanced by unique key pairs per site, preventing cross-site tracking if a breach occurs.
- Authentication requires user presence (tapping the key), blocking malware from authenticating without consent.
- Uses a challenge-response process with public key cryptography to prevent replay attacks and phishing.
- Security keys resist cloning/forgery due to embedded secrets and tamper protection.
- More convenient than OTPs, requiring only a tap instead of entering a code.
IT Support Perspective
- IT support specialists may need to configure, support, and implement multi-factor authentication solutions, making understanding these methods essential.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Biometric Authentication — Identifying individuals using unique physical traits (e.g., fingerprint, face).
- Hashing Algorithm — Cryptographic process converting data into a fixed-size string for secure storage.
- U2F (Universal Second Factor) — Hardware-based authentication standard using challenge-response with public key cryptography.
- Security Key — Hardware token storing unique cryptographic keys for secure authentication.
- Challenge-Response — Auth protocol where a server sends a random challenge that the client signs to prove identity.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the differences and security implications of biometric and hardware-based authentication.
- Practice explaining multi-factor authentication setups, focusing on their implementation and benefits.