Biometric passwords could have ‘devastating’ consequences
Posted Jun 22, 2019 1:06 pm.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Growing tired or frustrated having to remember countless computer passwords?
According to Okta Research, many employees are password fatigued and are ready to embrace fingerprint or retina scanning methods.
Randy Connolly, a professor of computing at Mount Royal University, says there are some legal and ethical issues that need to be worked out first.
“Where’s that data being stored? Is it being stored within the company? Is it being stored on a company server? Is it being handled by a third party?”
Connolly says biometric logins won’t completely replace digital passwords.
And he cautions it’s one thing to lose your wallet or passport, but if your biometric information is stolen that can create a new kind of headache for the victim.
“If you lose your driver’s license or maybe your wallet’s stolen, you can phone the appropriate agency they can cancel it and you can get a new one,” he pointed out. “You lose your fingerprint data, you’re in big big trouble — that’s devastating from an identity theft perspective.”
Connolly worries employees may not have a lot of rights in this area but expects that will change as lawmakers catch up to the changes.
