What are the advantages of using a combination of chip card and biometrics?
In authentication, possession of a chip card combined with biometric methods may further increase reliability. Not only are biometric references saved on the chip card, but also identity data of the user. For authentication, chip card plus capturing of the biometric characteristic is required. The following advantages result: • entry of a user ID via keypad is unnecessary • no central data base storing references is necessary • compromisation of the biometric characteristic without the possession of the card is not critical • when using a chip card with an integrated crypto processor and biometric comparator, systems allowing possible compromisation by decrypting a readout are rendered nearly impossible. • if a normal chip card is stolen, it may be blocked and a new card issued. With a crypto card on the other hand, only the saved, non displayed secret key must be changed. Still higher protection is achieved when using a crypto card which integrates biometric sensors in the card. This
