The inherent vulnerabilities of card-based access control systems are well known (and well exploited). Biometrics offer a more reliable alternative but even after fifteen years of development their use is not widespread.But now the prospect of real-time DNA authentication will have civil liberty activists foaming at the mouth (behind their facemasks). For just $15,000 you can purchase a DNA reader that will analyse and deliver results in just 30 minutes.
The quest now is to develop the technology so that it can identify a person in seconds. According to one industry expert, Richard Gardner, “DNA will become the preferred means of authentication in real time, possibly even within the time allowed for payment card transaction – 15 seconds”.
Worried? With cyber security being likened to "a stupid security guard handing keys" at a major IT security conference this week you should be!
