An Indian-origin scientist from America and his team have developed life-size 3D hand models. They developed this 3D hand model with all five fingerprints. This 3D hand model can produce the same ridges and valleys as a real finger. The research was funded by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Scientists said, “Creating a 3-D replica of someone’s hand complete with all five fingerprints and breaking into a secure vault sounds like a plot from a James Bond movie.”
Distinguished Professor Anil Jain from Michigan State University (MSU) said, “This is for the first time, the 3D hand is created to calibrate fingerprint scanners. Although, fingerprint and hand scanners need to be calibrated like an optical device. But, currently, there is no standard method for doing so.”
Scientists were studying how to test and calibrate fingerprint scanners. To test the scanners, they created life-size 3D hand models complete with all five fingerprints.
“We realized a fake 3D hand, essentially a spoof, with someone’s fingerprints, could potentially allow a crook to steal the person’s identity to break into a vault, contaminate a crime scene or enter the country illegally,” said Jain.
According to scientists, this 3D hand will be used to evaluate the spoof-resistance of commercial fingerprint scanners.
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They said, “We have highlighted a security loophole and the limitations of existing fingerprint scanning technology. Now it’s up to the scanner manufacturers to design a scanner that is spoof-resistant.”
Scientists actually wanted to design and cultivate standard models and procedures for consistent and reliable evaluation of fingerprint readers.
Nicholas Paulter said, “We are very pleased with this research. It is showing the uncertainties in the process and means for the accuracy of the readers.” (Nicholas Paulter is the Group Leader for the Security Technologies Group at NIST.)
