Fingerprint Scanner for your PC / Laptop / MAC / Windows 10

All types of biometric fingerprint scanners, regardless of the type and technology used, work by capturing a fingerprint image, extracting unique features, and comparing them with an already registered template. Fingerprint biometric devices may leverage different sensing technologies to capture the image. For example, optical fingerprint scanners make use of visible light to capture fingerprint images with a digital camera. Capacitive fingerprint scanners, on the other hand, use a grid of tiny capacitors to capture the ridge pattern image.

More security-oriented implementations may use ultrasonic sound waves as a sensing mechanism in which, sound waves are projected on the finger skin and the reflected waves are detected to create a fingerprint image. Reflected ultrasonic waves from ridges have a slight difference from reflected waves from valleys. Despite the fundamental differences in the sensing approaches, the main objective of a fingerprint scanner is to acquire a fingerprint image and provide it for enrollment or matching, as the case is.

Different fingerprint solutions may leverage different approaches to store fingerprints. However, regardless of the approach, fingerprints are stored in a secure encrypted format, which is virtually impossible to reverse engineer, i.e. to create the original pattern of the fingerprints used for establishing the identity and generating the template.

Standalone biometric fingerprint solutions serving a specific purpose (fingerprint scanner embedded such as fingerprint-based employee time & attendance systems, access control systems, fingerprint locks, etc.) generally come with inbuilt storage capacity. This storage capacity generally ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand fingerprints. Large-scale identification systems such as AFIS can store billions of fingerprints in storage servers.

When a matching request is generated, the system acquires a fresh sample from the user and sends it to the matching algorithm to compare if the sample matches with what is on record. If the sample matches the stored template, access is granted otherwise it is denied.

Before making any biometric fingerprint solutions work for you, you need to enroll the target users on the systems so that it recognizes their fingerprints whenever they need to perform identification/authentication. In the process of enrollment, user fingerprints are scanned to create a template, which is stored in the system.

This stored template is invoked and compared whenever the user performs verification. Verification is the process of comparing the newly acquired sample with the stored one to verify an identity claim from the user.

Though our fingerprints are unique, they do not carry any demographic information such as name, age, employee ID, social security number, etc. So during the enrollment process, the user fingerprint captured is linked with the user demographics. For example, your employer enrolling you on an employee time  & attendance system may associate your fingerprints with your employee ID.

DNA and fingerprints are entirely different biometric identification approaches. One requires imaging, which can be done with a simple digital camera-based scanner, the other requires physical samples to be taken through DNA analysis techniques to match with other DNA profiles. Both the modalities are used in many applications, however, forensic investigation is a common application in which both the modalities are extensively used.

DNA is considered to be a highly accurate biometric modality as each individual’s DNA profile is different, which can be used to uniquely identify him/her. Though DNA is extremely accurate, its samples are more prone to contamination, especially in forensic applications, where they can mix with another person’s sample or other material.

While DNA profiling is extremely accurate to tell people apart, fingerprint recognition offers a more practical approach in day-to-day biometric applications such as time & attendance, access control, authentication, etc.

Latent fingerprints, as the name suggests, are the fingerprints that can be present (on a surface), but not yet very noticeable. When you touch a surface with bare hands, the natural oil and sweat present on the skin surface leave an impression of friction ridges on the surface touched and that is how latent prints are created.

During a crime scene investigation, forensic experts look for latent prints on different surfaces where suspects might have touched.

Some latent print may become visible by applying simple methods such as casting light on the surface from different angles. Latent prints found on shiny surfaces such as glass, metals, etc. can be made visible using this method. Some latent fingerprints may require specific latent fingerprint development techniques to make them visible. Latent fingerprints present on the porous surface may require more sophisticated techniques to make them visible.

Fingerprints may seem extremely complex to a layman, however, the reality is that there are only a few fingerprint pattern types.  They are categorized into three basic categories: arches, loops, and whorls.

Loops are the most common fingerprint pattern. This fingerprint pattern can be found in almost 60 to 70% of the sampled fingerprints. In this pattern, friction ridges make a backward turn in loops but they do not twist.

Whorls are less common than Loops and are found in approximately 25  to 35% of cases. Some of the ridges in a whorl make a turn through at least one circuit. Therefore any pattern that contains two or more deltas will be a whorl.

Arches are the least common fingerprint pattern and can be found in approximately 5% of cases. In this pattern, friction ridges run continuously from one side of the finger to the other without making any backward turn.

Growing numbers of biometric deployment in different applications make it extremely crucial that these systems are able to uphold performance and user expectations.

Before hitting the market, fingerprint solutions as well as other biometric systems go through rigorous testing and performance evaluation. This performance evaluation is done to ascertain that any performance deviations can be found and fixed.

To measure the performance of a biometric system, solution, or application; performance metrics are commonly used by manufacturers and equipment testers. Different metrics can be used for this purpose. The most common performance metrics are the FAR (false acceptance rate) and the FRR (false rejection rate).

FAR is the number of incidents (generally expressed in percentage) in which a biometric system will fallaciously grant access to an unauthorized individual. On the other hand, FRR is the number of incidents in which a biometric system will fallaciously deny access to an authorized person.

Modality-wise, biometric fingerprint solutions unarguably offer the widest range of devices and stand-alone systems. There are plug-and-play USB fingerprint scanners to highly sophisticated (and expensive) 10-print scanners. The size of fingerprint readers also ranges from tiny mobile and payment card readers to large ten fingerprint scanners. However, it is not just the size of the fingerprint devices that offer this kind of range.

The price of fingerprint scanners also varies greatly as per scanner type, application and specifications. You can grab a basic USB fingerprint scanner to enable biometric login for your computer for as low as $20. On the higher side price can go up to $2000 or more. At the higher end of the price range, there are usually certified 10-print scanners and scanners for specific applications.

There are three types of fingerprint patterns: Loops, Whorls, and Arches. This basic level of categorization was done by Edward Henry in the early days of fingerprinting. Today, however, these three basic fingerprint patterns have been further divided into sub-types such as Plain Arch, Tented Arch, Radial Loops, Ulnar Loops, Double Loop, Plain Whorl, Central Pocket Loop Whorl, and Accidental Whorl. While fingerprint patterns are important for identification, there are also more detailed features called minutiae points.

A fingerprint pattern contains minutiae points, core points, ridges, valleys, local features, and global features. Ridges are represented by black lines while valleys are seen as white lines in a typical fingerprint image. The core point is the central area of a fingerprint image, while minutiae points are seen as small lines.

There are mainly eight types of minutiae points in a fingerprint image which are:

1. Ridge ending
2. Bridge
3. Crossover
4. Dot
5. Bifurcation
6. Hook
7. Delta

Different features of a fingerprint can be used while establishing the identity of an individual and performing identification/authentication. A biometric fingerprint solution may use an algorithm that makes use of the particular fingerprint features.

Transform-based algorithms typically use two-dimensional Fourier Transforms and Howe Transforms applied to the pixel array representing the fingerprint. The idea is to mathematically transform the image in some way and then compare the coefficients of the transformed images.

Correlation-based methods take into account that fingerprints and their representative matrices obtained from a fingerprint device cannot simply be superimposed due to all the differences.

The matching of two fingerprint images based on numbering, based on the numbering of minutiae and bifurcation points.  Minutia-based methods tend to emulate what forensic experts do.

Today, fingerprint technology-based identification and authentication are used in a variety of applications across different industry types, businesses, government outfits, and institutions. From low-security applications to high-security applications such as financial services, banking, and government security, biometric fingerprint solutions have been accepted as reliable methods of personal identification, authentication, and access control.

In law enforcement applications, fingerprint-based identification of criminals and suspects has been accepted as reliable proof for more than a century. Now when the process of fingerprint identification has been automated with fingerprint solutions, there is no room for human errors. It has resulted in more reliability in biometric fingerprint scanners.

Password or similar user authentication methods such as PINs, security questions, codes, etc. are based on secret information that is only known to the authorized user. In most cases, users are allowed to create their own passwords, for example, while creating online accounts. However, if passwords, PINs, etc. are simple enough, they can be prone to unauthorized access and hacking attempts with simple guesswork.

Today, most systems require minimum password complexity with numbers and special characters. This enhances security but renders passwords hard to remember. Fingerprint-based user authentication eliminates these issues. The fingerprint is like a complex secret code engraved on your finger and is extremely hard to replicate by others. So yes, the fingerprint is safer than a password.

When you choose to deploy biometric security for your use case, there are several modalities to choose from. If you choose a fingerprint scanner to be your preferred modality, then comes the question: which fingerprint scanner is the best. The answer to this question, however, can be subjective.

The suitability of a fingerprint scanner depends entirely on your use case. For example, if you want to set up a small business with FBI background verification services, it would require an FBI-certified scanner and no ordinary scanner will work in this case. If you just want to secure your home PC, a USB fingerprint scanner would be enough.

Once you have identified the category of the fingerprint scanner (e.g. USB fingerprint scanner, dual finger scanner, ten-print scanner, etc.), it would be wise to go for well-known brands, which offer competitive products and technologies. The best fingerprint scanner for your use case would offer the perfect balance of features, specifications, and your budget.

There can be several reasons why your fingerprints can’t be read by a fingerprint device. The scanner platen (sensor surface) or your finger may be dirty. In that case, cleaning the sensor surface and/or your finger will make it work. If the scanner is not able to read the fingerprints of any user, there might be a problem with the scanner. If cleaning does not work, try switching it off and on. If it still does not work, it may be time to call your vendor.

If this problem occurs during the enrollment and the scanner is able to read other users’ fingerprints, but not yours, there are chances that your fingerprint may be in unusable condition. Try removing any dirt, access oil, dampness from finger skin, and try again. If your friction ridges are worn off beyond a level, your fingerprint scanner may not be able to read them.

Using sanitizer is a good idea before and after using a fingerprint scanner from a hygiene point of view. After the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become more crucial to sanitize hands while using a fingerprinting device, if it is shared by many users. Using sanitizer to disinfect your scanner does not affect its performance, however, you have to make sure that you only use a recommended sanitizer.

Alcohol-based sanitizers might affect the moisture level of your finger skin, which in turn may have a slight impact on the performance of your recognition system. However, there is not going to be any dramatic difference in performance as finger skin re-moisturizes itself fairly quickly. It also depends on the type of sensing technology used in your scanner.

If you see noticeable performance hiccups after using alcohol-based sanitizers, you may switch to non-alcohol-based sanitizers.

Can fingerprint scanners be fooled? This question does not have an answer in clear yes or no. However, it is extremely hard to cheat a fingerprint scanner, especially when it makes use of modern liveness detection and anti-spoofing techniques.

Experts and ethical hackers have demonstrated fooling fingerprint scanners, face recognition systems, etc. on phones and computers. However, as the technology advances, manufacturers have started leveraging advanced anti-spoofing methods, which are extremely hard to circumvent. A cheap entry-level fingerprint might be vulnerable to spoofing, however, most fingerprint scanners with anti-spoofing will make spoofing attempts futile.

In the recorded history of fingerprint matching, no two fingerprints have been found to be the same and the same is also true for twins. Each finger of the human hand carries a different fingerprint pattern. Even identical twins do not have the same fingerprints.

Fingerprints are formed during the embryonic development of human beings and they are believed to be fully developed during the sixth month. Friction ridges are developed due to the pressure and friction on the baby’s fingers when the embryo develops in the womb.

Fingerprints, once formed, are permanent and do not change with age. After the birth, the size of the palms and fingers grows bigger as the baby grows, however, the fingerprint pattern remains the same. Fingerprints may wear off due to age, disease, or friction, however, they never change for a person throughout life.

Retention of biometric information including fingerprints by police depends on the reason for recording and what the law says about it. In civil applications such as background checks for employment, licensing, etc., there are defined laws on how the agencies should handle fingerprints and other biometric information provided to them.

In the Request for Live Scan Service form, the FBI clearly states: “The FBI may retain your fingerprints and associated information/biometrics in NGI after the completion of this application and, while retained, your fingerprints may continue to be compared against other fingerprints submitted to or retained by NGI.”

It means police may (or may not) keep your fingerprints on record for non-criminal applications. However, if you have been convicted of an offense, police can keep your fingerprints on record indefinitely or as prescribed by local/national law.