Biometrics is the science and technology of measuring and analyzing biological data.

In information technology, biometrics refers to technologies that measure and analyze human body characteristics, such as DNA, fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand measurements, for authentication purposes.

Biometric devices, such as finger scanners, consist of: A reader or scanning device A Software that converts the scanned information into digital form and compares match points A database that stores the biometric data for comparison
Biometric technology is used for many types of applications ranging from modest (providing time and attendance functionality for a small company) to expansive (ensuring the integrity of a 10 million person voter registration database). Depending on the application, the benefit of using or deploying biometrics may be increased security, increased convenience, reduced fraud or delivery of enhanced services. There are two common elements : 1. The benefits of biometric usage and deployment are derived from having a high degree of certainty regarding an individuals identity. 2. The benefits lead directly or indirectly to cost savings or to reduced risk of financial losses for an individual or institution. Benefits of Biometrics over Traditional Authentication Methods: 1. Increased Security: Biometrics can provide a greater degree of security than traditional authentication methods, meaning that resources are accessible only to authorized users and are kept protected from un-authorized users. Passwords and PIN s are easily guessed or compromised, tokens can be stolen. By contrast, biometrics data cant be guessed or stolen in the same fashion as a password or token. Although some biometric systems can be broken under certain conditions, todays biometric systems are highly unlikely to be fooled by a picture of a face, an impression of a fingerprint, or a recording of voice. This assumes, of course, that the imposter has been able to gather these physiological characteristics unlikely in most cases. In many enterprises, a common password is shared among administrators to facilitate system administration. Unfortunately, because there is no certainty as to who is using a shared password or token or whether the user is even authorized security and accountability are greatly reduced. Being based on distinctive characteristics, biometric data cannot be shared in this fashion, although in some systems two users can choose to share a joint bank account by each enrolling a fingerprint. The level of security provided by most biometric systems far exceeds the security provided by passwords, PIN s and tokens. 2. Increased Convenience: Generally passwords are kept simple is that they are easily forgotten. As computer users are forced to manage more and more passwords, the likelihood of passwords being forgotten increases, unless users choose a universal password, reducing security further. Tokens and cards can be forgotten as well, though keeping them attached to key chains reduces this risk. Because biometrics are impossible to forget, they can offer much greater convenience than systems based on remembering multiple passwords or on keeping possession of an authentication token. For PC applications in which a user must access multiple resources, biometrics can greatly simplify the authentication process the biometric replaces multiple passwords, in theory reducing the burden on both the user and the system administrator. Biometric authentication also allows for association of higher levels of rights and privileges with a successful authentication. Highly sensitive information can more readily be made available on a biometrically protected network than on one protected by passwords. 3. Increased Accountability: