Michigan researchers work to fight identity theft with 3D hand

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• published: 22 Oct 2016
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Michigan researchers work to fight identity theft with 3D hand model and to raise awareness of threats. The 'dead man's glove' that can fool any fingerprint sensor: Researchers reveal 3D printed hands that can be created from hacked data Researchers created 3D model hand with fingerprints for all fingers Fabricated replicas by printing each appendage and a fingerless glove The team found that this can be used to fool fingerprint scanning systems They say the technique could be like 'James Bond movies coming to life’ Identity thieves could now easily replicate a human hand, complete with all five fingerprints, to ‘break into a vault, contaminate a crime scene, or enter the country illegally,’ experts have warned. In a new study conducted to test and calibrate commonly used fingerprint scanners, biometrics researchers created 3D printed hand models with life-like ridges and valleys as seen in real fingers. Doing this, however, revealed the ease at which a criminal could build a fake hand using someone else’s fingerprints like, ‘James Bond movies coming to life.’ In a new study conducted to test and calibrate commonly used fingerprint scanners, biometrics researchers created 3D printed hand models with life-like ridges and valleys as seen in real fingers HOW THEY DID IT The researchers projected 2D calibration patterns onto the 3D surfaces, using known fingerprint patterns, including ridge flow, ridge spacing, and other characteristics. They split the model into six components: four individual fingers, the thumb, and the middle surface. Then, using a Stratasys Objet350 Connex 3D printer, they fabricated the replicas, printing each of the appendages and a fingerless glove to cover the remainder of the hand. The implications of these findings are widespread, as millions of fingerprint scanners are used around the world each day, from police departments and airport immigration counters, to banks and even amusement parks. It has raised fears the system could be used to create fake fingers for thieves based on data held in immigration and other databases. The Michigan State University biometrics team created skin-like models that can be worn over the fingers and hand, projecting 2D calibration patterns onto the 3D surfaces. They used known fingerprint patterns, including ridge flow, ridge spacing, and other characteristics. In order to create a whole hand, the researchers split the model into six components: four individual fingers, the thumb, and the middle surface. The Michigan State University biometrics team created skin-like models that can be worn over the fingers and hand, projecting 2D calibration patterns onto the 3D surfaces Then, using a Stratasys Objet350 Connex 3D printer, they fabricated the replicas, printing each of the appendages and a fingerless glove to cover the remainder of the hand. This method allowed them to evaluate both contact-based and contactless slap fingerprint readers – but it also revealed a major security loophole. ‘Like any optical device, fingerprint and hand scanners need to be calibrated, but currently there is no standard method for calibrating them,’ said MSU Distinguished Professor Anil Jain. ‘This is the first time a whole hand 3-D target has been created to calibrate fingerprint scanners. ‘As a by-product of this research we realized a fake 3-D hand, essentially a spoof, with someone’s fingerprints, could potentially allow a crook to steal the person’s identity to break into a vault, contaminate a crime scene or enter the country illegally.’ The implications of these findings are widespread, as millions of fingerprint scanners are used around the world each day, from police departments and airport immigration counters, to banks and even amusement parks The team says they are working with agencies and manufacturers to develop fool-proof systems now that this vulnerability has been revealed. Their modelling process is detailed in a paper, which received the best paper award at the 15th International Conference of the Biometrics Special Interest Group, 2106. ‘Now, another application of this technology will be to evaluate the spoof-resistance of commercial fingerprint scanners,’ Jain says. ‘We have highlighted a security loophole and the limitations of existing fingerprint scanning technology, now it’s up to the scanner manufacturers to design a scanner that spoof-resistant. The method allowed them to evaluate both contact-based and contactless slap fingerprint readers – but it also revealed a major security loophole.They are now working with agencies and manufacturers to develop fool-proof systems ‘The burden is on them to tell whether the finger being placed on the scanner is real human skin or a printed material.’ The researchers are hoping to develop a consistent method for the evaluation and calibration of fingerprint readers. And, the new insight on the security loopholes can help to make future systems more secure.