SINGAPORE, 12 DECEMBER 2008 - Fingerprint scans are among the most trusted form of identification by consumers, according to a research by technology services and solutions company Unisys.
More than two-thirds (67 per cent) of consumers surveyed around the world trust these biometric scans to verify their identities with banks, government agencies and other organisations, the study found.
Only personal passwords rank higher as the preferred identification method, and by a mere 1 per cent more than fingerprint scans.
Fingerprint scans rank far higher in consumer trust than lesser known biometric solutions such as facial scans (44 per cent of consumers said they are comfortable with this method) and scan of blood vessels in the hand (38 per cent), the survey found.
Most accepting of biometrics
Consumers in Malaysia, Australia and the UK are the most accepting of all biometric methods studied in the research. These consumers are also more accepting of identification methods that are generally unpopular in other parts of the world.
Hong Kong residents distrust many methods of authentication, including PINs and personal passwords, but are most accepting of fingerprints as an authentication method.
The biometrics survey was conducted alongside the latest instalment of the Unisys Security Index, which also found that bank card fraud and identity theft remain top concerns by the majority of consumers worldwide. This index is a biannual study that gauges consumers’ views about key security issues.
Fraudulent use of credit cards
Worry about the fraudulent use of credit or debit cards ranked the number one or two highest concern in 11 of 13 countries surveyed. Identity theft ranked as first or second highest concern in 10 countries.
“Fears about fraud and ID theft clearly aren’t going away. Adoption of biometric ID verification is one solution where we see widespread consumer support, although many organisations have yet to embrace this technology as an effective way to protect data and identities,” said Terry Hartmann, vice president of the global identity and credentialing practice at Unisys.
“What’s interesting is the data’s strong evidence that the more familiar people become with biometrics, the greater the ease and acceptance. Our research found higher trust levels in regions where governments and other organisations already embrace biometrics such as Malaysia and Australia, and in the UK where the issue is now getting strong market exposure with a proposed national ID card,” he added.
