Fingerprint Processing Research Articles

Analysis of impersonation attacks on systems using RF fingerprinting and low-end receivers

Recently, physical layer security commonly known as Radio Frequency (RF) fingerprinting has been proposed to provide an additional layer of security for wireless devices. A unique RF fingerprint can be used to establish the identity of a specific wireless device in order to prevent masquerading/impersonation attacks. In the literature, the performance of RF fingerprinting techniques is typically assessed using high-end (expensive) receiver hardware. However, in most practical situations receivers will not be high-end and will suffer from device specific impairments which affect the RF fingerprinting process. This paper evaluates the accuracy of RF fingerprinting employing low-end receivers. The vulnerability to an impersonation attack is assessed for a modulation-based RF fingerprinting system employing low-end commodity hardware (by legitimate and malicious users alike). Our results suggest that receiver impairment effectively decreases the success rate of impersonation attack on RF fingerprinting. In addition, the success rate of impersonation attack is receiver dependent.

Multiple targets localization approach based on virtual fingerprinting in indoor environment

The main drawbacks of indoor localization approach based on Received Signal Strength (RSS) is the sensitivity to the fluctuation of measured RSS at a fixed location in difference time. In this paper, a novel multiple target localization approach is proposed by exploiting virtual fingerprinting, which is calculated from spacial relationship between reference nodes and virtual location nodes. The merits of our proposed method is twofold. First, our proposed method does not require the process of RSS fingerprinting constructing, which is a huge burden of localization methods based on RSS. Secondly, our proposed method is more robust than some existing methods, such as TOA-based method and RSS-based method, in big measurement error case. The efficacy of our proposed method are proven by means of some experimental results.

4G Security Using Physical Layer RF-DNA with DE-Optimized LFS Classification

Wireless communication networks remain underattack with ill-intentioned “hackers” routinely gaining unauthorized access through Wireless Access Points(WAPs)–one of the most vulnerable points in an informationtechnology system. The goal here is to demonstrate thefeasibility of using Radio Frequency (RF) air monitoring to augment conventional bit-level security at WAPs. The specific networks of interest are those based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), to include 802.11a/g WiFi and 4G 802.16 WiMAX. Proof-of-concept results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of a “Learningfrom Signals” (LFS) classifier with Gaussian kernel bandwidth parameters optimally determined through DifferentialEvolution (DE). The resultant DE-optimized LFS classifier is implemented within an RF “Distinct Native Attribute” (RFDNA) fingerprinting process using both Time Domain (TD) and Spectral Domain (SD) input features. The RF-DNA isused for intra-manufacturer (like-model devices from a given manufacturer) discrimination of IEEE compliant 802.11a WiFi devices and 802.16e WiMAX devices. A comparative performance assessment is provided using results from the proposed DE-optimized LFS classifier and a Bayesian-based Multiple Discriminant Analysis/Maximum Likelihood (MDA/ML) classifier as used in previous demonstrations. The assessment is performed using identical TD and SD fingerprint features for both classifiers. Finally, the impact of Gaussian, triangular, and uniform kernel functions on classifier performance is demonstrated. Preliminary resultsof the DE-optimized classifier are very promising, with correct classification improvement of 15% to 40% realized over the range of signal to noise ratios considered.

Generation and processing of urinary and plasmatic metabolomic fingerprints to reveal an illegal administration of recombinant equine growth hormone from LC-HRMS measurements

Growth hormones are proteins produced by the anterior pituitary gland responsible for bone and tissue growth through their effects on carbohydrates, lipids and proteins metabolisms. Despite strict regulations banning the use of recombinant equine growth hormone, this substance is suspected to be misused to improve the horse physical performances. In order to check whether the regulation is fulfilled or not, controls are organized and a new analytical screening tool potentially able to detect such abuse was investigated in this paper. An untargeted metabolomics approach, based on liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry, was developed and applied to characterize and compare horse urinary and plasmatic metabolic profiles upon reGH administrations. After minimal sample preparation, biological fluids were analyzed by LC-ESI(±)-Q-TOF. Data processing was performed by XCMS software and multivariate data analysis applied to the generated data set allowed building OPLS models to discriminate control versus treated populations. Results demonstrated significant metabolic modifications consecutively to the reGH treatment. A comparative study between urinary and plasmatic signatures was performed to evaluate the resulting metabolomic models and to asses their respective interests in the scope of real application for screening reGH administration.

Quality and matching performance analysis of three-dimensional unraveled fingerprints

The use of fingerprints as a biometric is both the oldest mode of computer-aided personal identification and the most-relied-on technology in use today. However, current acquisition methods have some challenging and peculiar difficulties. For higher performance fingerprint data acquisition and verification, a novel noncontact 3-D fingerprint scanner is investigated, where both the detailed 3-D and albedo information of the finger is obtained. The obtained high-resolution 3-D prints are further converted into 3-D unraveled prints, to be compatible with traditional 2-D automatic fingerprint identification systems. As a result, many limitations imposed on conventional fingerprint capture and processing can be reduced by the unobtrusiveness of this approach and the extra depth information acquired. To compare the quality and matching performances of 3-D unraveled with traditional 2-D plain fingerprints, we collect both 3-D prints and their 2-D plain counterparts. The print quality and matching performances are evaluated and analyzed by using National Institute of Standard Technology fingerprint software. Experimental results show that the 3-D unraveled print outperforms the 2-D print in both quality and matching performances.

The nature of expertise in fingerprint examiners

Latent print examinations involve a complex set of psychological and cognitive processes. This article summarizes existing work that has addressed how training and experience creates changes in latent print examiners. Experience appears to improve overall accuracy, increase visual working memory, and lead to configural processing of upright fingerprints. Experts also demonstrate a narrower visual filter and, as a group, tend to show greater consistency when viewing ink prints. These findings address recent criticisms of latent print evidence, but many open questions still exist. Cognitive scientists are well positioned to conduct studies that will improve the training and practices of latent print examiners, and suggestions for becoming involved in fingerprint research are provided.

Effect of substrate surface topography on forensic development of latent fingerprints with iron oxide powder suspension

AbstractLatent fingerprint deposition and effectiveness of detection are strongly affected by the surface on which prints are deposited. Material properties, surface roughness, morphology, chemistry and hydrophobicity can affect the usefulness or efficacy of forensic print development techniques. Established protocols outline appropriate techniques and sequences of processes for broad categories of operational surfaces. This study uses atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to investigate a series of surfaces classified as smooth, non‐porous plastic. Latent prints developed with iron oxide powder suspension are analysed on a range of scales from macro to nano to help elucidate the interaction mechanisms between the latent fingerprint, development agent and underlying surface. Differences between surfaces have a strong effect, even within this single category. We show that both average roughness and topographical feature shape, characterised by skew, kurtosis and lay, are important factors to consider for the processing of latent fingerprints. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Embedded access points for trusted data and resources access in HPC systems

Biometric authentication systems represent a valid alternative to the conventional username---password based approach for user authentication. However, authentication systems composed of a biometric reader, a smartcard reader, and a networked workstation which perform user authentication via software algorithms have been found to be vulnerable in two areas: firstly in their communication channels between readers and workstation (communication attacks) and secondly through their processing algorithms and/or matching results overriding (replay attacks, confidentiality and integrity threats related to the stored information of the networked workstation). In this paper, a full hardware access point for HPC environments is proposed. The access point is composed of a fingerprint scanner, a smartcard reader, and a hardware core for fingerprint processing and matching. The hardware processing core can be described as a Handel-C algorithmic-like hardware programming language and prototyped via a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based board. The known indexes False Acceptance Rate (FAR) and False Rejection Rate (FRR) have been used to test the prototype authentication accuracy. Experimental trials conducted on several fingerprint DBs show that the hardware prototype achieves a working point with FAR=1.07% and FRR=8.33% on a proprietary DB which was acquired via a capacitive scanner, a working point with FAR=0.66% and FRR=6.13% on a proprietary DB which was acquired via an optical scanner, and a working point with FAR=1.52% and FRR=9.64% on the official FVC2002_DB2B database. In the best case scenario (depending on fingerprint image size), the execution time of the proposed recognizer is 183.32 ms.

Nonparametric Regression between General Riemannian Manifolds

We study nonparametric regression between Riemannian manifolds based on regularized empirical risk minimization. Regularization functionals for mappings between manifolds should respect the geometry of input and output manifold and be independent of the chosen parametrization of the manifolds. We define and analyze the three most simple regularization functionals with these properties and present a rather general scheme for solving the resulting optimization problem. As application examples we discuss interpolation on the sphere, fingerprint processing, and correspondence computations between three-dimensional surfaces. We conclude with characterizing interesting and sometimes counterintuitive implications and new open problems that are specific to learning between Riemannian manifolds and are not encountered in multivariate regression in Euclidean space.

Analysis of Compound-Specific Chlorine Stable Isotopes of Vinyl Chloride by Continuous Flow–Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (FC–IRMS)

A new method for determining compound-specific chlorine stable isotope was developed for vinyl chloride (VC). The analysis is carried out on a continuous flow–isotope ratio mass spectrometer (CF–IRMS) with special collectors for m/z 64 and 62. The precision of this technique is better than ± 0.16‰ (1σ) for pure phase gas injection and headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME) injection. The new methodology was tested in a confined sandy aquifer contaminated with VC located near the city of Ferrara, northern Italy. The VC isotopic signatures (37Cl and 13C) showed that the VC is not a primary manufactured compound and is a byproduct of production of petrochemicals in the Ferrara region during the 1970s and 1980s. The isotope data also suggested VC is attenuated by biodegradation along the groundwater flow system. The development of compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) for VC offers a new tool for fingerprinting sources and processes that affect VC in groundwater.

The Use of Liquid Latex for Soot Removal from Fire Scenes and Attempted Fingerprint Development with Ninhydrin*

Throughout the United States, clearance rates for arson cases remain low due to fire's destructive nature, subsequent suppression, and a misconception by investigators that no forensic evidence remains. Recent research shows that fire scenes can yield fingerprints if soot layers are removed prior to using available fingerprinting processes. An experiment applying liquid latex to sooted surfaces was conducted to assess its potential to remove soot and yield fingerprints after the dried latex was peeled. Latent fingerprints were applied to glass and drywall surfaces, sooted in a controlled burn, and cooled. Liquid latex was sprayed on, dried, and peeled. Results yielded usable prints within the soot prior to removal techniques, but no further fingerprint enhancement was noted with Ninhydrin. Field studies using liquid latex will be continued by the (US) Virginia Fire Marshal Academy but it appears that liquid latex application is a suitable soot removal method for forensic applications.

Budget Crisis or Management Opportunity

Abstract Control of the fingerprinting process from start to finish has been the dream of many identification bureau managers. Due to a budget reduction, the replacement of detention deputies with fingerprint technicians in the inmate booking process became necessary. This became a project that presented many challenges and required a number of changes in procedure. Initial results have been positive, and a budget savings was realized through elimination of personnel.

Background Checks and Fingerprinting in Public School Systems (Part III)

Two events specific to this study occurred in 1999, 1) the National Crime Prevention and PrivacyCompact became effective which provided reciprocity among the states to share records withoutcharging each other for the information, and 2) all 50 states and the District of Columbia were finallymembers of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification(NASDTEC) Clearinghouse which collects information concerning the status of educational certificatesand can then share (reciprocate) this information to any interested member of the NASDTECClearinghouse. The purpose of this study was to determine whether reciprocity among the 50 statesand the District of Columbia had caused an increase in certificate sanctions such as revocation,suspension or denial. By 1999, many states were also including fingerprinting in their criminal historybackground checks, but some states still were not. There were concerns among some teachers, schooldistricts, and states that the cost of fingerprinting was too great, the time constraints of such checkswere too great and fingerprints infringed on ones privacy. A graduate wanting to receive a teachingcertificate in both Kansas and Missouri would have to pay for and go through the fingerprinting processin both states, within days of each other. The fingerprinting process is not reciprocated; however,information received from the national criminal search as a result of the fingerprinting process isreciprocated.

Ridgelet-based fake fingerprint detection

Perspiration phenomenon is very significant to detect liveness of a finger. However, it requires two consecutive fingerprints to notice perspiration, and therefore it may not be suitable for real-time authentications. Some other methods in the literature need extra hardware to detect liveness. To alleviate these problems, we propose a new ridgelet transform-based method which needs only one fingerprint to detect liveness. Wavelets are very effective in representing objects with isolated point singularities, but failed to represent line singularities. Ridgelet transform allows representing singularities along lines in a more efficient way than the wavelets. Fingerprint is an oriented texture pattern of ridge lines; hence naturally ridgelets are more suitable for fingerprint processing than the wavelets. We use ridgelet energy and co-occurrence signatures to characterize fingerprint texture using our databases consisting of real and spoof fingerprints. Dimensionalities of feature sets are reduced by running principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm. Ridgelet energy and co-occurrence signatures are independently tested on various classifiers such as: neural network, support vector machine and K-nearest neighbor. Finally, we fuse all the classifiers using the “mean rule” to build an ensemble classifier. Fingerprint databases consisting of 185 real, 90 fun-doh and 150 gummy fingerprints are created. Multiple combinations of materials are used to create casts and moulds of spoof fingerprints. Experimental results indicate that, the performance of a new liveness detection approach is very promising, as it needs only one fingerprint and no extra hardware to detect vitality.

A real time fingerprint identification system based on the AFS8600 sensor and the C6713 DSP processor

AbstractIn this paper, a fingerprint pre‐process and identification algorithm is implemented using the TMS320C6713 DSP starter kit (DSK) module, along with the Authentec AFS 8600 fingerprint sensor. Database: Acquisition is performed using a solid state sensor. The sensor postulates emerge from the theory of the Electric Field technology. Method: Images are first subjected to a frequency and orientation processing. This is achieved using Gabor‐based filters. This processing has been optimized and implemented on the DSP system. A new method has been developed in order to extract the feature vector of the fingerprint image. A grid, centered at the corepoint of the image, is applied to the fingerprint image in order to derive local information. Classification algorithms are developed, which include training as well as evaluating phase. The types of classifiers used were based on the Bayesian approach along with the K‐nearest neighbour. Results: An identification accuracy of 90% was achieved which is comparable to other procedures described in the literature. Conclusion: The combination of a fingerprint processing and identification algorithm using a low cost sensor and DSP module has been presented. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Improvements and Adaptations in Fingerprint Processing Techniques for the Creation of a High-Quality Minutiae Database

Improvements and Adaptations in Fingerprint Processing Techniques for the Creation of a High-Quality Minutiae Database

Fate of mucosal healing in transplanted deep frozen irradiated tracheal homograft

Deep-frozen irradiated tracheal homograft has been successfully employed for subglottic-tracheal reconstruction, as in our previous report. Morphologically, though the transplanted site appeared to have good mucosal healing, the fate of the donor mucosa is not known. The objective of this study was to determine the survival of the mucosa of donor trachea. University hospital-based, prospective study. Thirty samples from six sets of specimens, each set consisting of five samples of the tracheal mucosa, were studied. Of five samples in each set, 2 were taken from donors, one from a recipient, and another two from the transplanted sites, eight months postoperatively. The samples in each set of specimens were genetically matched by the process of DNA fingerprinting. Histological studies were done on the mucosa of donor and transplanted sites. The study demonstrated incompatibility between samples from recipient and transplanted site, and incompatibility between preoperative donor and recipient samples in all sets of specimens. The mucosa of donor trachea did not survive at the transplanted site. The apparently normal postoperative mucosal lining actually represents migration of the recipient mucosa. The fate of transplanted donor tracheal mucosa is elucidated, and may substantially explain the mechanism of rejection resistance.

Combining multiple matchers for fingerprint verification: A case study in biosecure network of excellence

We report on experiments for the fingerprint modality conducted during the First BioSecure Residential Workshop. Two reference systems for fingerprint verification have been tested together with two additional non-reference systems. These systems follow different approaches of fingerprint processing and are discussed in detail. Fusion experiments I volving different combinations of the available systems are presented. The experimental results show that the best recognition strategy involves both minutiae-based and correlation-based measurements. Regarding the fusion experiments, the best relative improvement is obtained when fusing systems that are based on heterogeneous strategies for feature extraction and/or matching. The best combinations of two/three/four systems always include the best individual systems whereas the best verification performance is obtained when combining all the available systems.

Nurses' Promise to Safeguard the Public

A historical perspective on healthcare regulation is provided along with the details of the process of fingerprinting and background checks. Issues are raised concerning the validity and reliability of background checks. Information on the status of the individual states is provided by means of a chart and a discussion ensues regarding the rationalization for requiring background checks and fingerprinting. Finally, questions and recommendations are posed regarding making background checks a requirement for licensure and/or entry into nursing schools.

Fingerprint Detection on Counterfeit US$ Banknotes: The Importance of Preliminary Paper Examination

Two seizures of counterfeit 100 US dollar bills related to the same indicative number were submitted for processing of latent fingerprints. On one group of notes, identifiable fingerprints could be detected by the routine application of amino acid reagents. In the second case, this technique gave no results, even on deliberately deposited prints. Fingerprints could be revealed, however, by cyanoacrylate fuming followed by magnetic powder. Comprehensive paper analysis showed that banknotes from both seizures differed remarkably by chemical composition as well as paper macroscopic properties. The difference in surface free energy (related to surface tension) of the banknotes in the two groups seemed to be the major factor responsible for the great variance in fingerprint detectability.