The use of biometrics instead of alphanumeric passwords has a number of significant benefits, especially in terms of security, convenience and user experience. Still, not all forms of biometrics have the same level of security, and the choice of the right method can make the difference between a protected identity and an easily hackable one.
Although the most widespread to date are fingerprint authentication or facial recognition, iris authentication is positioned as one of the most reliable and secure solutions for the uniqueness that characterizes it.
But are we paying it the attention it deserves? How can we protect the most unique feature we possess? In today’s article, we will try to answer these questions and analyze the future uses that this feature can provide us with.
Biometrics: the key to our identity
While traditional passwords are something we can easily share, lose or forget, our biometrics are non-transferable and unique. For this reason, using aspects of our biometrics as access keys has become popular in recent years, especially for accessing our smartphones, either through fingerprint or facial recognition. But although these forms of biometric access are very convenient to use, they are not infallible.
In the case of the fingerprint, its massive use and the information recorded and stored in databases out of our reach, such as government databases, represents a significant risk, because although these databases are usually well protected, they are not immune to cyber-attacks that could compromise millions of identities. In addition, fingerprints can be copied relatively easily, for example, by replicating prints from surfaces that a person has previously touched that once compromised, cannot be changed.
The iris as a biological seal
While it could also be exposed to vulnerabilities, the iris of the human eye offers a number of advantages that make it a more reliable option for biometric authentication, since each iris is unique, even among identical twins, and its design is composed of a highly complex pattern of fibers and pigmentation that makes it extremely difficult to duplicate.
On the other hand, in addition to the added difficulty of being able to “steal” it as in the case of fingerprints, iris recognition systems convert the iris pattern into an encrypted mathematical code that cannot be reverted to the original design, adding an additional layer of security.
But as we discussed with fingerprints, it is true that any biometric system, including iris recognition, would need to store the information in some database to compare and authenticate identities. Below, we break down how databases containing biometric patterns, such as iris, can be made more secure to reduce the risks of hacking.
Advanced encrypted storage
Iris biometric data is not stored as an image or a visual pattern, but as an encrypted mathematical code generated by recognition algorithms. Yet, with the imminent threat of quantum computers capable of breaking classical encryption schemes such as RSA or ECC, it is critical to implement advanced, post-quantum techniques to protect this sensitive information:
- Post-quantum encryption: Migrate to cryptographic systems resistant to quantum computing, such as those based on lattice-based cryptography, error-correcting codes or hash functions. These schemes are designed to resist attacks from future quantum computers.
- Homomorphic encryption: Allows calculations to be performed on encrypted data without the need for decryption, adding a layer of protection by ensuring that the comparison and authentication process is secure even if the data flow is intercepted.
- Dynamic tokenization: Biometric data can be converted into unique tokens that expire once used, so as they do not need to be reused they would not be stored in their original form, making any leakage irrelevant.
- Use of hybrid algorithms: By combining current encryption schemes (such as ECC) with post-quantum algorithms, short-term compatibility and future resilience against quantum attacks could be ensured.
- Decentralized data distribution: Storing fragmented and distributed data on multiple servers with technologies such as blockchain or decentralized and distributed databases would make unauthorized access to the complete information extremely difficult.
ZK technology and iris biometric authentication
In the previous point we have seen some ways to protect information storage, but what measures can we take if we want to share information with third parties, for example, to verify our identity, without having to expose sensitive data? This is where zero-knowledge technology (ZK) would come into play along with zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) that offer a solution to ensure the security and privacy of information when it is shared without compromising the user’s information.
As we already saw a few weeks ago in our blog, zero-knowledge proofs allow proving possession of information without revealing the actual information, thanks to advanced cryptographic techniques that allow verification of the possession of an information without the need to reveal the content of such information. Therefore, due to this ability to verify identities without exposing sensitive data, ZK could be the key to overcome the current risks associated with the storage and processing of biometric data.
If combined with advanced techniques such as decentralization and homomorphic encryption, iris biometrics could become a virtually hack-proof solution, positioning itself as one of the most secure tools for identity protection in the digital world. Thus, the process that could be followed to authenticate identity would be as follows:
- Verification without exposing the iris pattern: The iris pattern can be processed locally on the user’s device and transformed into a cryptographic proof using a ZK algorithm. Thus, the server (or authentication system) receives only this ZK proof, which allows verifying that the user is who he claims to be, without ever receiving the iris pattern or storing it directly.
- Secure storage in the database: Instead of storing iris patterns in clear text or even in traditional encrypted form, the data could be stored as cryptographic commitments (using techniques such as zk-SNARKs or zk-STARKs). These compromises make it possible to verify a person’s authenticity without the need to decrypt or expose the underlying information, reducing the risk of leaks.
- Decentralized authentication: Using zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) together with decentralized technologies such as blockchain, biometric data can be distributed and authenticated in a decentralized way, eliminating the need to rely on a single server or centralized entity.
- Real-time proof: During an iris scan, the device could generate a real-time ZK proof that confirms that the iris belongs to an authorized user, without transmitting or storing the actual iris pattern.
Conclusion
Biometrics has transformed the way we authenticate, offering a unique combination of convenience and security that traditional passwords cannot match. However, not all biometric technologies are equally foolproof, and the use of the iris as an authentication method stands out as one of the most reliable and advanced options, thanks to its uniqueness and inherent barriers to duplication or theft.
As the digital world continues to evolve and cyber-attacks become more sophisticated, protecting biometric data becomes a major challenge, and thanks to emerging technologies such as zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) and advanced encryption offer us a solution to make biometric authentication not only efficient, but virtually invulnerable.
In addition, the use of approaches such as decentralization, encrypted storage and real-time evidence can ensure that our biometrics, and in particular the iris, become the ultimate key to our digital identity, without exposing our privacy. Thus, the combination of technological innovation and good security practices will allow us to take full advantage of the benefits of biometrics, consolidating a more secure future for the protection of our identities in the digital world.
Resources:
[1] Block&Capital – Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): The future of identity management
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