Error Correction Codes for Biometric Cryptosystem: An Overview
Andrew Beng Jin Teoh, Jin Teoh, Jaihie Kim · 2015
In cryptographic applications, the key protection is either knowledge-based (passwords) or possession-based (tamper-proof device). Unfortunately, both approaches are easily forgotten or stolen, thus introducing various key management issues. By incorporating biometrics technologies which utilize the uniqueness of personal characteristics, the security of cryptosystems could be strengthened as authentication now requires the presence of the user. Biometric Cryptosystem (BC) encompasses the design of cryptographic keys protection methods by incorporating biometrics. BC involves either key-biometrics binding or direct key generation from biometrics. However, the wide acceptance and deployment of BC solutions are constrained by the fuzziness related with biometric data. Hence, error correction codes (ECCs) should be adopted to ensure that fuzziness of biometric data can be alleviated. In this overview paper, we present such ECC solutions used in various BCs. We also delineate on the important facts to be considered when choosing appropriate ECCs for a particular biometric based solution from accuracy performance and security perspectives.