[Courtesy of Samsung Electronics]
SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics introduced a smart all-in-one fingerprint security integrated circuit that adds an extra layer of authentication and security. With three key functions integrated into a single chip, the security solution can help card manufacturers reduce the number of chips required and optimize card design processes for biometric payment cards.
It is the industry's first all-in-one security chip solution that reads biometric information through a fingerprint sensor, stores and authenticates encrypted data with a tamper-proof secure element, and analyzes and processes data with a secure processor, Samsung said.
Samsung said that the new solution called "S3B512C" combines a fingerprint sensor, secure element and secure processor in one chip, with enhanced security features enabled by Samsung's proprietary fingerprint authentication algorithm and anti-spoofing technology that prevents unauthorized users from circumventing the security system with illegitimate methods such as artificial fingerprints.
Spoofing is the act of disguising a communication from an unknown source as being from a known, trusted source and is often the way a bad actor gains access in order to execute a larger cyber attack. The secure element is a chip protected from unauthorized access and used to run a limited set of applications, as well as store confidential and cryptographic data. A secure processor has a critical role in achieving the high assurance of security systems.
"The S3B512C is primarily designed for payment cards but can also be used in cards that require highly secured authentications such as student or employee identification, membership or building access," Kenny Han, vice president of Samsung'system LSI marketing, said in a statement on January 25.
Biometric payment cards can allow faster and safer interactions when making purchases, Samsung said, adding that the biometric authentication removes the need to enter a PIN on a keypad and prevents fraudulent transactions made with lost or stolen cards as it verifies the identity of cardholders using a unique and securely stored fingerprint.
Samsung said that the new solution's encrypted fingerprint data is stored in a secure element chip that has received globally accredited certifications. It performs in line with Mastercard's latest biometric evaluation plan summary (BEPS) specifications for biometric payment cards.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
