Security applications which use the person’s biological assets have been in use for quite some time now. Finger print scanners can be seen in some home based PC’s, and iris scanners and other types of biometric devices have also become popular lately. But for some reason, biometric security to date has remained aloof from mobile communication systems. The need to miniaturize components is the biggest challenge before the engineers when it comes to taking the technology to PDAs, smart phones and other handheld machines.
Until now, biometrics has been used to tie a device to a person so that it does not fall in the hands of scrupulous persons. It can eliminate the illegal use of the devices, such as gathering one’s passwords, access to bank accounts, etc., in order to propagate fraud and thievery. But the latest IST project, named SecurePhone, has taken biometrics with a whole new approach. It lets the person digitally sign audio, text and even image files as a proof of their originality and authenticity.

The biometric data is basically stored in the SIM card ad can only be accessed by a verification module which also runs on the SIM card. This ensures that the user biometric profile is completely tamper proof. Thus this is one of a kind biometric application which processes and stores the data on the SIM card.
The existing communication might be very secure, but there is no way to prove the authenticity or identification of the person on the other side of the phone. As we know, mobiles due to the ubiquity, are seen to be the future means of monetary transactions like eCommerce, or even means to sign deals and give representation. But unless there is a full proof method to prove the identity of the person, all this is just a distant dream.
The SecurePhone technology provides a way in which even the audio or the text sent through mobiles will have potential legal value. The aim is to find a means of conversation that cannot be disputed afterwards, for example: a biometrically encoded voice coding could be a clear proof of the person speaking. And the Courts may be more likely to recognize this as legal proof when it’s combined with other features, such as video.
The SecurePhone project thus consists of two different modules:
- The first module is basically the biometric verification module which verifies that only the legitimate person is using the particular service. It is a type of biometric security application which confirms the identity of the user.
- The second module succeeds the first one by digitally signing the data by use of a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
Thus rather than relying on something you possess like a pin code that you can easily lose the biometric encryption relies on what you actually are!
The system is primarily designed for PDA-phones, yet it could also be used in WiFi-enabled PDAs and smart phones.
It offers three methods of biometric identification, with the use of technology that already exists in the devices:
- Digital cameras along with a face recognition application
- Voice recognition software, which syncs detection of speech as well as lip movements
- Touch screen recognition and verification of the owner’s handwritten signature.
These three methods combined offer a great level of security and reliability, and yet they don’t require hardware installations to the mobile devices. The SecurePhone platform is entirely software based, which keeps costs down, while making its implementation much easier.
The project partners are working on the system’s final integration, before trials of the finished prototype which are to begin in August. The company has noted that the different elements of the application have performed well during laboratory testing.
The resulting application is commercially appealing due to obvious concerns in the world with securing one’s personal data, bank account, and personal identity. The company plans to first target niche market segments, such as busy executives, e-healthcare, or e-government, and then expand into other segments after that.
As long as the platform itself is unhackable, then I’m personally looking forward to this new product because it will give me more security and peace of mind knowing that if I lost or dropped my mobile device, or it got stolen, my data would be safe and inaccessible by others.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sera Filson is a writer, entrepreneur and professional student who’s currently pursuing a B.A. in Business Management. To manage her busy life, Sera stays organized using Outlook, which uses Intermedia’s Hosted Exchange.