Is Biometric Authentication Secure? Rising Concerns in a Digitally Driven Era

By: Injila Khan, Content Writer

The world we are living in has undergone a digital transformation. While this digital revolution brings ease, it has also created a world of cybersecurity threats. Biometric authentication came as the ultimate solution to everything but now there is a growing public concern regarding biometrics. There was a surge in consumer apprehension towards biometrics observed between 2022 and 2024. Specifically, concerns regarding the misuse of biometric data jumped from 69% to 88% within this period. Simultaneously, the fear of biometric data breaches also escalated from 69% to 86%, as reported by GetApp Research.

Overall confidence in biometrics has experienced a steep decline. GetApp’s 2024 Biometric Technologies Survey of 1,000 consumers revealed a dramatic decline in people’s trust in tech companies’ ability to safeguard biometric data. The percentage of those who say they “highly trust” tech companies with this data dropped from 28% in 2022 to 5% in 2024 , while the percentage that “do not trust” them nearly doubled from 22% to 42%. The same survey conducted by GetApp found that initially the convenience of biometrics boosted consumer acceptance especially during the covid era due to touchless solutions but now this confidence has completely turned around in 2024.

Concerns About Biometric Data Breaches

There have been umpteen incidences of biometric data breaches which in turn hinder the widespread adoption of this technology. People are losing trust in biometric systems with biometric data being stolen frequently combined with the feasibility of mistaken identity and the growing power of artificial intelligence (AI).

Data breaches are one of the biggest drawbacks of biometrics because of its permanent nature. Once the biometric data is compromised, there is a constant risk of identity theft of the individual. A survey conducted by IBM Security revealed that nearly 60% of Asian-Pacific consumers raise concerns about biometric spoofing by cybercriminals, compared to a global average of 50% people. Another 2023 survey conducted by GetApp indicated consumer concerns regarding the sharing of personal information with generative AI tools. With the rise of generative AI, people are more skeptical of using biometrics. They are aware how much their personal data is at risk in this tech-savvy world where there is no data privacy.

Security Over Convenience

There is an unending debate between security versus convenience. A Gartner survey from 2022 revealed that 98% of employees find it frustrating to manage encrypted emails and documents. This highlights the need for stringent security solutions like biometric authentication that eliminates time-consuming login processes and reduces cumbersome data entries resulting in more productivity.

Biometric authentication does offer ease and convenience yet there is a question of data protection. People are well-aware about the sensitivity of personal information on social media but they often choose quick and easy access over strong security log-ins while accessing their accounts. This is especially alarming considering how many people use their Facebook, X, and Google accounts to log in to other apps and websites. A lot of popular apps such as food delivery, online shopping, and dating sites, etc. let you sign in using your social media accounts. If one account gets hacked, it will compromise the privacy of all the online data, creating a domino effect.

How Secure is Biometric Authentication?

Biometrics is as common as smartphones, but it does not come without security concerns. Fingerprint recognition ranked as the most secure authentication method in the eyes of consumers. According to the IBM Security: Future of Identity Study, 44% of respondents prioritized fingerprint technology, followed by retinal scans at 30% and alphanumeric passwords at 27%.

Concerns have been raised about how biometric data is stored and managed. The 2018 data breach affecting genomics and biotechnology company 23andMe is one such example. The personal data of 6.9 million people was stolen, including their family history based on DNA. Hackers managed to infiltrate the company’s systems and gain unauthorized access to user profiles. This shows how risky it is to keep biometric information safe.

Biometric authentication is inevitable just like our smartphones but there is a big question on security and threats along with it. Due to privacy concerns, many people are hesitant to use biometrics these days especially with the unavoidable use of AI in our lives. The same technology that makes our lives easy can also be used by hackers and scammers to execute spoofing attacks. The proliferation of digital footprints, including photos, videos, and voice recordings shared online, provides sufficient material to create highly realistic biometric replicas.

A notable example of biometric vulnerability emerged in 2015 when a biometric researcher Jan Krissler also known as Starbug, demonstrated that iris scanning can be bypassed by extracting sufficient data from a high-resolution photograph. The fact that people can unlock your phone just by looking like you shows how easy it is to fool facial recognition systems. This highlights the flaws in today’s biometric security. The future of biometric authentication depends on the development of strong security measures that can protect consumers’ data while having access to the advanced technology