Latest Event: Use of Biometrics in Mobile Communication

Security applications which use the person's biological assets have been in use for quite some time now. Finger print scanners can even be seen in home cased PCs, iris scanner and other types of biometric devices have also become popular lately. But due to some reason Biometric security till date has remained aloof from mobile communication systems. The need of miniaturization is the biggest challenge that has been in front of the engineers when it comes to taking the technology to mobile devices, PDAs and other hand-held machines.

Until now the biometrics has been used to tie a device to a person so that it does not fall in the hands of scrupulous persons. It eliminates the illegal use of the devices. But the latest IST project named SECUREPHONE has taken biometrics with a whole new approach. It lets the person digitally sign audio, text and even image files as a proof of their originality and authenticity.

The biometric data is basically stored in the SIM card ad can only be accessed by a verification module which also runs on the SIM card. This ensures that the user biometric profile is completely tamper proof. Thus this is one of a kind biometric application which processes and stores the data on the SIM card.

The existing communication might be very secure but there is no way to prove the authenticity or identification of the person on the other side of the phone. As we know mobiles due to the ubiquity are seen to be the future means of monetary transactions like eCommerce, even means to sign deals and give presentation but unless there is any full proof method to prove the identity of the person, all this would be a distant dream. The securephone technology provides a way in which even the audio or the text sent through mobiles will have a legal value. The aim is to find a means of conversation that cannot be disputed afterward for example a biometrically encoded voice coding would be a clear proof of the person speaking.

The securephone project thus consists of two different modules:

• The first module is basically the biometric verification module which verifies that only the legitimate person is using the particular service. It is a type of biometric security application which confirms the identity of the user.

• The second module succeeds the first one by digitally signing the data by use of a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).

Thus rather than relying on something you possess like a pin code that you can easily lose the biometric encryption relies on what you actually are!

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The Latest Ad Hoc Mobile Personal Tech Networking Device Patent by Apple

Every day the smart phone market has something new to say, new to report, or more information to retort. For instance, now Apple is upping the ante on their control over the smart phones they sell, and has decided to apply for a few new patents. Yes, this is all typical in Apple Style, and yet, one of those patents is very telling to us at our Internet style Think Tank, as we are constantly remunerating about such things.

Great article on August 20, 2010 in ARS Technica entitled; "Apple May Be Looking to Lock Out Unauthorized iOS Users," by Chris Foresman who reported that Apple filed a patent titled; "Systems and Methods for Identifying Users of an Electronic Device," such as heartbeat analysis, photo, voice print, and suspicious behavior uncommon to the known user.

So, I guess a thief who has stolen the phone would then be giving away his/her picture, voice print, keystrokes, and Global Position (location). The patent appears to also be able to turn off phone, erase hard-drive, and download all information to the "cloud" which is to protect the user. Yes, very nice, but with this technology, the authorities could also shut-it-down if the individual was suspected of being a bad guy, rioter, terrorist, etc. too.

Now then some folks at Slash-Dot ask, well would this also allow Apple to shut off those who "jail-break" from Apple's proprietary software? A great question posed by SoulSkill (screen name). A very good question, and inquiring minds, like mine want to know. But I also suspect that by having this feature, it means that the US Army would be interested in this for our "Blue Force" tracking in the Net Centric or rather Ad Hoc networked battlespace too. See that point.

If an enemy gets a hold of one of their mobile devices, boom! - it is shut off and we have a picture of the enemy's camp, and what questions are asked, and the position of the soldier or device? Wow, now that is what I call using privileged information during interrogation. It also helps Apple sell its devices to the US Government over competitors like Motorola, Nokia, HTC, Google, and Blackberry too.

Unfortunately, this will totally fuel new conspiracy theories and NSA fringe seekers living in old cold war missile silos waiting for the apocalypse or Terminator's SkyNet to take over? Is this more big brother, or just upping the stakes in the world of personal tech, and government, military security for communication devices? You decide, I've already decided for myself.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.WorldThinkTank.net - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.