How often have we heard about smartphones being hacked, and sensitive information being made public? Whether we talk about important and confidential information of elected representatives being leaked online, or as minute but important as an incongruous colleague spying on our texts and images, it is extremely important to ensure the safety, security and sanctity of our personal data.
Over the past decade, biometric security has played a pivotal role in ensuring that our personal data remains secure. Smartphones used to come — and most still do — with password protection. However, inputting the password is not only a chore, but it is also a high security risk, as it can be easy to either guess, or discern the password by snooping on the individual. Hacking into someone’s phone can wreak havoc in their lives, as it is then easy to gain access to their private and confidential details, such as their emails and banking information.
Biometric technology has slowly replaced conventional methods such as inputting the password, or simply swiping on the mobile screen to unlock a smartphone. The individual authentication is done depending on either the person’s physiological characteristics such as their fingerprint, iris definition or their retina, or their behavioural characteristics, such as the person’s voice to unlock the mobile phone. Here are a few ways in which biometric security helps in making your phone more secure.
Authenticating Your Profile
Apart from just unlocking your smartphone, biometric identification is now being used to log into apps safely and securely. Windows phones, Android phones and iPhones have been adding features to enable consumers log in securely using biometric identification, thereby enabling them to verify their accounts while on the move. For instance, Realme X50 Youth Addition 5G, one of the most talked-about and eagerly-awaited Realme latest phones comes with fingerprint sensor, and also supports face unlock.
Prevents Cyber Attacks
Smartphones like OnePlus 3T, which is often heralded as the best smartphone under 25000 INR come with facial recognition software. Passwords are often insufficient, and can also be notoriously bad at securing and protecting the accounts of the users along with their private information. Thus, facial scans, voice recognition and fingerprint scans to unlock smartphones make it extremely difficult for hackers to gain access to confidential and sensitive information. This in turn reduces the risk of identity theft, along with the possibility of other cyber attacks, such as phishing emails. Without biometric security, it gets easier for hackers to dupe unsuspecting consumers, and gain access to their personal information such as credit card details and their bank account number.
Ensures Secure Online Transactions
With biometric technology, now you no longer have to input your log-in information while using mobile payment and e-commerce platforms, video streaming apps, or while using any other web-based transactions. Digital wallets on smartphones are protected by fingerprint and iris scans, thereby adding another layer of security which ensures a more secure online transaction.
Reasons why Biometric Security is More Beneficial Than Conventional Methods
Biometric security has quickly become a must-have for smartphone app security. Here are a few reasons why biometric security is more beneficial than the conventional methods.
- Unlike passwords and security patterns, where you have to remember the codes and the patterns to unlock the smartphone or to use a specific app, biometric security does not require you to remember any pattern. Thus, it also reduces the risk of losing or forgetting the code required to unlock your mobile phone.
- Biometrics are unique, and hence, it is a much safer method to unlock your smartphone.
- Biometrics do not change over time, and thus, you do not have to update or change any information to unlock your mobile phone.
- Unlike passwords and security patterns, biometrics cannot be stolen or replicated. You do not have to worry about someone else gaining access to your biometrics, and can therefore rest easy, knowing that the sensitive and private information on your smartphone is safe and secure.
