Security breaches have become a commonplace around the globe with the greater use of technology for different activities. Hackers may try to access information for malicious activities such as crashing the system or stopping operations, or for monetary gain, such as selling trade secrets, user information, or accessing bank accounts. As security expert Transmit Security points out (https://www.transmitsecurity.com/blog/what-is-identity-verification), it is important that organizations and users take steps to protect their devices and software resources.
Your first step to ensuring security is verifying anyone that accesses your resources. There are three popular ways that one can use to verify the identity of the person trying to gain access to a device, website, or software resource. Here is a quick look at each method and where you can use them.
Knowledge-based Verification
A knowledge-based verification (KBA) verifies the identity of a user by requiring them to answer a query. The question is designed in such a way that the right person is able to answer it with ease, but everyone else will find it hard to answer. For example, your mother’s maiden name, where you met your partner, or your middle school nickname. You do not struggle to remember these names if you are the owner.
A few additional security features have been added to the method. For example, there could be a requirement to answer the requirement within a specified period. You may also be forced to answer at least two questions. The disadvantage to the method is that people may have known some of the answers if they knew your background, or you had posted the same on social media.
Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is a form of verification that requires users to provide an additional form of personal identification, which is known as a token, in addition to the KBA before they are allowed in. The token could be something that the user has memorized, sent to them via email or SMS, or generated by a token card that the user has with them. Most banking systems use a physical token, such as FICO cards, while other platforms use SIM cards for verification.
The use of two-factor authentication creates a better deterrence as any potential unauthorised user must be in possession of the token to access the resource, something that is hard. The method is also used to reset passwords in order for the organization to know if the one who requests a new password is actually the user.
The Biometric Verification Method
Biometrics usually involves the use of body measurements to help determine the user. Each of us has unique features that can be used to identify them, such as fingerprints, voice, iris and face ID. This method requires the user to have a device that has the capability to scan the body part during verification. Initially, they set up the system by getting a digital blueprint of the body party they wished to use for verification. The system then uses the digital image as the reference point whenever one wants to gain access.
Most mobile devices have one or several biometric scanners, such as fingerprint scanners, face ID, and iris readers. Online platforms such as Google also have voice recognition systems. The user just scans the part of the body whose digital footprint is available on the database and logs in. This is also a very secure method, as the user has to be personally available to unlock the device using this method.
Just like two-factor authentication, this method is used for knowledge-based verification. While users can access the resources using just their biometrics, they should have set a password as a fallback method should it fail. For maximum security, some websites also require users to use one of two methods when trying to gain access to their resources.
Biometrics are also hackable, such as the case where one uses the image of the user or accesses the database that stores the digital images of the users. However, these cases are rare and far between.
What Three Methods Are Used to Verify Identity: Final Thoughts
Ideally, it is good to use at least two methods to secure resources from unauthorised access. If the user feels that any of the methods are compromised, they can always reset them while ensuring their resources are protected. Organisations should also have a security policy that requires them to check the security of the methods customers and internal employees use for access periodically.
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