PayPal Suggests Biometric Identification Will One Day 'Kill All Passwords'

A login mechanism you could eat, digital tattoos and vein recognition could be among the biometric identification mechanisms that help protect corporate data in the future, according to Jonathan LeBlanc, PayPal’s global head of developer advocacy.

In a presentation that was made publicly available on SlideShare, LeBlanc outlines a series of biometric identification possibilities that could, as he puts it, “kill all passwords.” He goes well beyond mere fingerprint scanning or facial recognition tools to explore sensors embedded under the skin or ingestible authentication devices that could later be destroyed by stomach acid.

As farfetched as some of these ideas may seem, LeBlanc explained in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that almost anything would be better than the type of easily detected passwords used to secure computer systems today. On the other hand, he said the presentation was intended to merely spark discussion, not to suggest PayPal was coming out with biometric identification tools anytime soon.

As with other security standards, it may be that the industry will develop the next generation of biometric identification in a collaborative fashion. Wired UK pointed out that PayPal and others are already members of the Fast Identity Online Alliance, which is working on a range of specifications to securely authenticate users. There have also been partnerships between security vendors such as Kaspersky Lab and hacking collectives such as BioNyfiken to work on joint solutions.

The big question is whether the average individual would be comfortable with credentials that are stored inside their bodies, rather than using identifiers that are simply digitally read by a piece of hardware. A story on TechWorld pointed to Halifax Bank, which is reportedly tying authentication into heart-monitoring systems as a way for some customers to gain access to their accounts. Still, although smartwatches and smart eyewear are poised to hit the mainstream in 2015, this would take wearables to a whole new level.

These various forms of biometric identification are still up for debate, but even the most die-hard cybercriminals would probably agree they will work more effectively than “123456,” which The Telegraph noted was the most popular password of the past year.

Image Source: iStock

Shane Schick

Writer & Editor

Hive0137 and AI-supplemented malware distribution

12 min read - IBM X-Force tracks dozens of threat actor groups. One group in particular, tracked by X-Force as Hive0137, has been a highly active malware distributor since at least October 2023. Nominated by X-Force as having the “Most Complex Infection Chain” in a campaign in 2023, Hive0137 campaigns deliver DarkGate, NetSupport, T34-Loader and Pikabot malware payloads, some of which are likely used for initial access in ransomware attacks. The crypters used in the infection chains also suggest a close relationship with former…

Unveiling the latest banking trojan threats in LATAM

9 min read - This post was made possible through the research contributions of Amir Gendler.In our most recent research in the Latin American (LATAM) region, we at IBM Security Lab have observed a surge in campaigns linked with malicious Chrome extensions. These campaigns primarily target Latin America, with a particular emphasis on its financial institutions.In this blog post, we’ll shed light on the group responsible for disseminating this campaign. We’ll delve into the method of web injects and Man in the Browser, and…

Crisis communication: What NOT to do

4 min read - Read the 1st blog in this series, Cybersecurity crisis communication: What to doWhen an organization experiences a cyberattack, tensions are high, customers are concerned and the business is typically not operating at full capacity. Every move you make at this point makes a difference to your company’s future, and even a seemingly small mistake can cause permanent reputational damage.Because of the stress and many moving parts that are involved, businesses often fall short when it comes to communication in a crisis.…

Security Intelligence

{{title}}

{{title}}

{{title}}

Topics

More from

Hive0137 and AI-supplemented malware distribution

Unveiling the latest banking trojan threats in LATAM

Crisis communication: What NOT to do

Topic updates