As we approach a new era of virtual reality, the digital world is becoming increasingly real. Businesses will grow in this new reality as individuals and organisations soon enter a parallel reality known as the metaverse and show themselves as their avatars, or 3D versions of themselves.
But, like with every new technology, every invention has two sides. On the one hand, you will be able to completely customise your avatar and appearance in the metaverse. But what about security, on the other hand? How do you safeguard your personal information in such an open virtual environment? How do you protect the security of your identities when connecting with individuals and businesses on a level you've never encountered before? Biometrics holds the key.
Role of biometrics in the metaverse
Biometrics is a subset of the larger area of digital identity management. It entails using distinguishing physical characteristics such as fingerprints or facial features to identify people.
Biometric technology has been used in security systems around the world for years—think retina scans at airports or fingerprints on smartphones—but now we're seeing more companies use it for employee access control as well as customer service applications like digital banking services or e-commerce sites where purchasing specific items requires verification through a scan of your fingerprint or face before a purchase can be completed.
The growing number of social engineering attacks and other security concerns has a significant impact on how firms verify and authorise their online users. And, when it comes to the metaverse, things are rapidly deteriorating as fraudsters target weak lines of authentication security.
If a company leaves an opening in the overall authentication process, consumer-facing malware could compromise identities. Although many organisations are concerned about the metaverse's underlying security and authentication vulnerabilities, most aren't taking the necessary steps to mitigate them.
This is where a strong identity management solution with biometric authentication comes into effect.
Users can quickly and securely authenticate themselves using biometric authentication by using face recognition or fingerprint scanning.
Because no two people have identical biological characteristics, this greatly reduces the likelihood of identity theft.
Because it provides an easy means for people to authenticate their identity without having access to passwords or PIN codes, biometrics is at the heart of building safe digital identities in the metaverse.
Biometrics, as opposed to passwords, is based on unique biological traits such as fingerprints, voice, and facial attributes. No two people can have the same biological parameters. And because it is robust, there is a very small possibility that it will be compromised.
Biometrics challenges in the metaverse
While biometrics has the potential to improve security and user experience in the metaverse, it is not without its drawbacks and challenges:
Concerns about privacy: Users in the metaverse may be hesitant to share sensitive biometric data, such as facial recognition or fingerprint scans, for fear of potential breaches or exploitation. Maintaining the security of this data becomes critical, posing a serious privacy concern.
Security Risks: Biometric data in the metaverse, like in the real world, is vulnerable to hacking efforts. Cybercriminals may target biometric authentication systems, jeopardising users' identities and security.
Accessibility Issues: Biometric authentication relies on specific physical or behavioural qualities that may not be available to everyone. Some users may require additional technology or have circumstances that make biometric detection problematic, preventing them from having a seamless metaverse experience.
False Positives and Negatives: Biometric systems are not perfect. False positives (recognising an unauthorised user as authorised) and false negatives (failing to recognise an authorised user) can occur, causing authentication challenges and potential user irritation.
Biometrics' role in the metaverse is a two-edged sword. While technology has the potential to provide greater security, personalised experiences, and seamless interactions, it also poses privacy, security, accessibility, and ethical issues. To establish a secure and inclusive virtual environment, the successful incorporation of biometrics in the metaverse will require careful assessment of these issues as well as a commitment to addressing these challenges.
