Multi Factor Authentication Using Biometrics For Securing User Accounts

Biometric authentication techniques have become vital in securing access to sensitive information. This blog on multi factor authentication using biometrics explores utilizing biometric authentication techniques for enhanced security, making it an essential read for those aiming to prevent account takeover fraud and secure user accounts effectively.

Are you interested in learning more about multi factor authentication using biometric techniques to safeguard your accounts? Anonybit’s identity management platform can simplify the process.

What Exactly Is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Multi-factor authentication requires the user to provide two or more verification factors to access a (secured) service or to complete a transaction. This could include:

• Accessing an online account or computer application
• Authorizing a payment or an account recovery process

Multi-factor authentication aims to verify that you are who you say you are. MFA guidelines require a combination of two or more separate authentication factors. The authentication categories are:

• Something the user knows (knowledge-based authentication, like a password).
• Something the user has (possession-based authentication, like an SMS OTP sent to a device owned by the user).
• Something the user is (inherence-based authentication, like any of Anonybit’s biometric authentication methods).
• Any combination above is technically acceptable, but not two from the same category. However, to ensure strong authentication, one of the factors should be the biometric.

The Growing Demand for Seamless and Secure Online Experiences

More and more people are signing up for digital services online – for example, 27% of British adults have opened an account with an online-only bank (that’s 14 million people) – and they all expect a seamless user journey. At the same time, fraud is rising, and organizations must be vigilant.

The Evolving Threat

Digital fraud is a very real threat and is growing more sophisticated by the day. For example, account takeover fraud (ATO) is a widespread problem. ATO fraudsters gain unauthorized access to a genuine user’s account, usually for financial gain, often using techniques such as credential stuffing to scale these attacks.

Enhanced Security and User Convenience

Today’s enterprise-grade biometrics provide a highly reliable, independent authentication factor. For example, face and voice biometrics are well suited to deployment in mobile applications and conversational interfaces (like chatbots). They are also efficient solutions for handling issues like account takeovers and securing account recoveries. Whether your business is looking to increase security, protect user privacy and credentials, improve the user experience, comply with regulations, or all of the above, there is a strong business case for deploying biometrics.

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• Can Biometrics Be Hacked
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• Privacy by Design

The Risks Of Account Recovery And Credential Management

Account Takeovers (ATOs)

Account recovery due to forgotten passwords or lost credentials is one of the riskiest events in the identity and access management (IAM) user lifecycle. The lack of appropriate controls introduces the risk of account takeovers (ATOs), as attackers can exploit high-friction or low-assurance workflows to bypass even the strongest authentication mechanisms. During these vulnerable moments, attackers can pose severe security and privacy risks such as:

• Gain access to privileged accounts
• Phish additional information that could be useful in future attacks
• Credential stuffing
• Other techniques to gain unauthorized access to accounts.

Weak Authentication Methods

Weaker authentication methods, such as one-time passwords (OTPs) delivered via SMS or email, persist, but they should be phased out as soon as possible. These methods have inherent vulnerabilities that make them unreliable for establishing user trust..

For example, SMS OTPs can be intercepted through SIM swapping or man-in-the-middle attacks, while email OTPs can be compromised if an attacker has access to the user’s email account. Both of these can also be phished out of people. Consequently, relying on these weaker methods increases the risk of unauthorized access and account compromise.

Social Engineering Attacks

Legacy methods such as knowledge-based verification are susceptible to social engineering attacks, where attackers manipulate users or system processes to gain access to sensitive information. Even personal attestation, where a manager or other employee vouches for the user, can be exploited through social engineering and poses challenges regarding scalability.

Attackers may gather personal information through social media or phishing attacks to answer security questions or impersonate trusted individuals. These vulnerabilities make these legacy methods a weak link in the security chain, exposing accounts to potential breaches.

Solutions for Data Breaches, Fraud, and Privacy

At Anonybit, our decentralized biometrics system design helps companies prevent data breaches and account takeover fraud. With a decentralized biometrics solution, companies can enable passwordless login, wire verification, step-up authentication, and help desk authentication. We aim to protect companies from data breaches, account takeovers, and synthetic identity fraud.

To achieve this goal, we offer security solutions such as:

• Secure storage of biometrics and PII data
• Support for the entire user lifecycle
• 1:1 biometric authentication and 1:N biometric matching to prevent duplicates, synthetics, and blocklisted identities 

Anonybit eliminates the tradeoffs between privacy and security. Prevent data breaches, enable strong authentication to eliminate account takeovers, and enhance the user experience across the enterprise using Anonybit.

Book a free demo today to learn more about our integrated identity management platform.

Available Authentication Options And Its Challenges

SMS-delivered OTP (One-Time Password)

SMS-delivered OTPs send a one-time password to the user’s registered mobile phone. While convenient, this method is insecure due to vulnerabilities like SIM swapping attacks and the potential for SMS interception by malware. Combining SMS-delivered OTPs with biometrics recognition helps to prevent unauthorized access even if the OTP is intercepted or phished. Risk signals, such as unusual login attempts or device location changes, should also be considered to bolster security further.

Voice-delivered OTP

Voice-delivered OTPs deliver a one-time password via an automated voice call to the user’s registered phone number. This method shares similar security issues with SMS-delivered OTPs, such as susceptibility to SIM swapping attacks and phishing. Voice-delivered OTPs can be combined with recognition signals like voice biometrics and device recognition to enhance security. 

Email-delivered OTP

Email-delivered OTPs send a one-time password to the user’s registered email address. The main security concern is the potential compromise of the user’s email account through phishing or hacking. If the email account is compromised, attackers can intercept the OTP. 

Security Questions

Security questions require users to answer predefined questions to verify their identity. This method is insecure because the answers can often be easily guessed or obtained through social engineering. 

OTP App

OTP apps generate time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs) or HMAC-based one-time passwords (HOTPs) on a user’s mobile device, with examples including Google Authenticator and Authy. These apps are more secure than SMS or email OTPs because the OTP is generated locally and does not travel through insecure channels. If attackers gain physical access to the user’s phone or compromise the app, they could generate the OTPs.  Similar to other OTP methods, codes generated by OTP apps can also be phished.

Mobile Push (App)

Mobile push authentication involves sending a push notification to a user’s mobile device, prompting them to approve or deny the authentication request. This method adds an extra layer of security by requiring physical access to the device and user interaction. It is not immune to risks such as device theft or malware that can intercept or manipulate push notifications.

To mitigate these risks, mobile push authentication can be enhanced with recognition signals like biometric authentication and location-based verification. Device recognition ensures the push notification is sent to a trusted device, biometric authentication ensures that it is going to the correct person. Additional risk signals can improve security, such as detecting multiple failed attempts or unusual access patterns.

FIDO2 Security Key

FIDO2 security keys are hardware devices that use public-key cryptography to authenticate users, with examples including YubiKeys and Google Titan Security Keys.

They provide robust security by ensuring the private key never leaves the device, making it highly resistant to phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks. Despite their strong security, FIDO2 keys can be lost or stolen, leading to unauthorized access if not properly managed. 

Related Reading

• Biometric Authentication Methods
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• Device Based Verification
• How Is Biometric Data Stored
• Biometrics In Healthcare
• Biometric Authentication Banking
• Biometric Data GDPR

Securing User Accounts With Multi Factor Authentication Using Biometrics

Given the risks of account takeovers and the limitations of traditional authentication means, organizations must shift their focus to alternative authentication factors. Strong MFA combinations, such as authentication tokens and biometric authentication, can offer higher assurance, particularly in high-risk scenarios.

Biometrics: A Secure and Usable Authentication Factor

Biometrics is the most secure, especially when used alongside other factors like knowledge (e.g., passwords) or possession (e.g., a mobile device).

Biometrics is secure because it’s the only authentication factor that enables organizations to be certain that a physical person at the end of an internet connection is who they claim to be. A password or a device can be shared or stolen, which means anyone could be using them. But nobody can take your physical face. Biometric face authentication ensures you’re dealing with the right person. It can be implemented in an automated interactive voice response (IVR) system or during a voice call with a support agent.

Effortless User Convenience

Biometrics is not only secure but also highly usable. Your face is always with you, unlike an OTP that can be spoofed or a device that can be stolen. 

Balancing Security And User Experience

Balancing security and user experience is crucial when implementing multi-factor authentication and identity verification. Traditional methods like SMS-delivered OTPs are considered weak due to their susceptibility to interception, making them increasingly insecure. It is essential to phase out such weak methods in favor of more robust solutions prioritizing security and user experience.

Organizations can achieve this by adopting a risk-based approach and leveraging a combination of alternative authentication factors, including biometrics. By implementing biometric authentication techniques, organizations can significantly enhance the security of their user accounts while still maintaining a smooth user experience.

Risk-Based Approach to Authentication

A risk-based approach allows organizations to dynamically adjust the level of security based on the perceived risk associated with a particular transaction or activity. By implementing this approach, organizations can automatically prompt users for additional authentication steps when high-risk transactions are detected, such as logging in from a new device or location. This enhances security and helps maintain a seamless user experience by only requiring additional authentication when necessary.

Automated Identity Verification Solutions

In cases where biometric authentication methods are not possible or fail, more extensive identity verification solutions can be leveraged. These solutions utilize advanced technologies like document verification to validate a user’s identity remotely.

These solutions require users to submit a photo of their government-issued ID and a selfie. The solution then verifies the authenticity of the ID document and biometrically compares it to the live selfie against the photo on the document.

Related Reading

• Biometric MFA
• Biometrics and Cyber Security
• Biometrics Privacy Concerns
• Biometric Identity Management
• Multimodal Biometrics
• Decentralized Biometric Authentication
• Biometrics Integration
• Biometric Security Solutions
• Future of Biometrics

Book A Free Demo To Learn More About Our Integrated Identity Management Platform

At Anonybit, we help companies prevent data breaches and account takeover fraud with our decentralized biometrics technology. With our decentralized biometrics framework, companies can enable passwordless login, wire verification, step-up authentication, help desk authentication, and more. 

Comprehensive Security Solutions for Companies

We aim to protect companies from data breaches, account takeovers, synthetic identity on the rise, privacy regulations, and digital transformation. To achieve this goal, we offer security solutions such as:

• Secure storage of biometrics and PII data
• Support for the entire user lifecycle
• 1:1 authentication and 1:N matching for lookups and deduplication

Balancing Privacy and Security with Anonybit’s Integrated Platform

Anonybit eliminates the tradeoffs between privacy and security. Prevent data breaches, reduce account takeover fraud, and enhance the user experience across the enterprise using Anonybit. Book a free demo today to learn more about our integrated identity management platform.