Glossary » biometrics
biometrics
the detection and use of unique identifying physical characteristics in identifying users of a system, typically for security reasons to restrict access without the use of passwords. Examples of biometric devices include: thumbprint readers, retina scanners, body heat scanners, and typing-pattern detectors (using inter-keystroke delays). Biometrics can rarely be forged, but unless the biometric devices are secured to ensure that the person who is gaining access is the same person who is being scanned, it is certainly possible to copy the individual data to pose as another person.
