Biometric Technologies and Verification Systems [Paperback]

John R. Vacca (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0750679670 | ISBN-13: 978-0750679671 | Publication Date: March 30, 2007 | Edition: 1

Biometric Technologies and Verification Systems is organized into nine parts composed of 30 chapters, including an extensive glossary of biometric terms and acronyms. It discusses the current state-of-the-art in biometric verification/authentication, identification and system design principles. It also provides a step-by-step discussion of how biometrics works; how biometric data in human beings can be collected and analyzed in a number of ways; how biometrics are currently being used as a method of personal identification in which people are recognized by their own unique corporal or behavioral characteristics; and how to create detailed menus for designing a biometric verification system.

Only biometrics verification/authentication is based on the identification of an intrinsic part of a human being. Tokens, such as smart cards, magnetic stripe cards, and physical keys can be lost, stolen, or duplicated. Passwords can be forgotten, shared, or unintentionally observed by a third party. Forgotten passwords and lost "smart cards" are a nuisance for users and an expensive time-waster for system administrators. Biometric security solutions offer some unique advantages for identifying and verifying/ authenticating human beings over more traditional security methods. This book will serve to identify the various security applications biometrics can play a highly secure and specific role in.

* Contains elements such as Sidebars, Tips, Notes and URL links
* Heavily illustrated with over 150 illustrations, screen captures, and photographs
* Details the various biometric technologies and how they work while providing a discussion of the economics, privacy issues and challenges of implementing biometric security solutions

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This text would be extremely useful as a ready reference for a seasoned security professional or as a primer for a novice."

"The author has struck a fine balance between the details and the big picture, and his book amply lives up to the desired purpose of the book."

"Right from this book's introductory lines until the end, Vacca demonstrates his excellent acumen in expressing a complex subject is very accesible prose, making it easy to understand. "

Security Management, Col. Kuljeet Singh, CPP

About the Author

John Vacca is an information technology consultant and internationally known best-selling author based in Pomeroy, Ohio. Since 1982, John has authored 60 books (some of his most recent books include: "Biometric Technologies and Verification Systems," /Publisher: Elsevier Science & Technology Books (March 16, 2007); "Practical Internet Security" (Hardcover), /Publisher: Springer (October 18, 2006); "Optical Networking Best Practices Handbook" (Hardcover), /Publisher: Wiley-Interscience (November 28, 2006); "Guide to Wireless Network Security,"/Publisher: Springer (August 19, 2006); "Computer Forensics: Computer Crime Scene Investigation (With CD-ROM), 2nd Edition"/Publisher: Charles River Media (May 26, 2005); "Firewalls: Jumpstart For Network And Systems Administrators," Publisher: Elsevier Digital Press (December, 2004); "Public Key Infrastructure: Building Trusted Applications and Web Services,"/Publisher: Auerbach Publications (May 11, 2004); "Identity Theft,"/Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR (September 12, 2002 ("Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story," Lifetime Television for Women, Starring Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Annabella Sciorra [Expert Source and Inspiration for: "Quiz: Are You At Risk," by Sara Eckel,Release Date: 11-1-2004.)); "The World's 20 Greatest Unsolved Problems"/Publisher: Pearson Education (was rated by Amazon as number 10 of their Best Books of 2004: Top 10 Editors' Picks: Computers & Internet and, more than 600 articles in the areas of advanced storage, computer security and aerospace technology (copies of articles and books are available upon request). John was also a configuration management specialist, computer specialist, and the computer security official (CSO) for NASA's space station program(Freedom) and the International Space Station Program, from 1988 until his early retirement from NASA in 1995. In addition, John is also an Independent online book reviewer. Finally, John was also one of the security consultants for the MGM

Product Details

• Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1 edition (March 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750679670
• ISBN-13: 978-0750679671
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,116,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Glossy - Big Picture Only, January 7, 2010

By 

J. Byers "Biometric Guy" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biometric Technologies and Verification Systems (Paperback)

I needed a book that would provide me with the methods currently used to extract biometric information, for such things as Facial Identification and Iris Identificaion. I was not expecting detail algorithms, nor sample code, but I was expecting an informed description, or at least the name or author of some of those algorithms.

Unfortunately, this book only provided an "Executive Summary" type of information. For example, in this book's section, "How Does Iris Pattern Recognition Work?", the answer is provided in five short paragraphs.

This book is good only for novices in Biometrics and are looking for a cursory understanding of the field. However, it is not helpful for anyone who is already informed to any degree about Biometric Technologies.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Comprehensive Look, November 6, 2007

By 

Scott R. Ellis "scorellis" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biometric Technologies and Verification Systems (Paperback)

This is a great book about verification systems that use biometrics. It covers all the bases and provides insights that most of us would never think about when selecting a biometric technology. This book includes easy to understand explanations of how the technologies work and it also provides sections on deployment at an enterprise level. I don't think there is any form of verification here that the author didn't cover. Apparently there is bioverification technology in the works that will verify you based on your scent. I think this is less a "verification" technology and more so one of "surveillance". Perhaps a bit sci-fi, but it's good for a book to elucidate where technology is heading. So, the book is good in that respect as well as explaining clearly where things are today. My company is in the process of building a secured computer forensics laboratory area in our building that will control and monitor access, this book provided some very useful insights and raised my level of awareness with respect to intrusiveness or non-intrusiveness and the accuracy and speed of the different technologies. In my humble opinion, iris identification seems to be the best as a secured access control. But that is just my opinion and you'll have to read the book to formulate your own!

5.0 out of 5 stars Covers all aspects of biological detection systems., October 29, 2007

By 

D. Lee "texas1066" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biometric Technologies and Verification Systems (Paperback)

I like this book. The author did a great job covering the complete scope of biometric verification systems. This is a one-stop-shopping treatment of the state-of-the-art systems and gives the reader a perspective of not only the technologies, but the susceptibilities and emerging security risks and tradeoffs. Reading this book made me realize that not only will IT security analysts and engineers have interest, but that criminologists will find this extremely insightful and helpful. Written in concise, easy to read format. Highly recommended.