Ensuring privacy of biometric factors in multi-factor authentication systems

One of the inherent properties of biometrics is the ability to use unique features for identification and verification of users. The usable biometric features in humans are limited in number and they must be kept secret; if a biometric factor is compromised it presents a challenge that may defy solution. In this paper we present a novel method to preserve privacy of users' biometrics. Using an elastic matching algorithm, we produce a digest that can be substituted for the raw biometric factor. This will ensure that the users' biometric data is never exposed during the authentication phase.