Abstract
Fingerprint databases are widely used in background/criminal investigation and physical access control. However, the security mechanisms protecting these databases are often inadequate. Once a hacker or an insider obtains a copy of a database the fingerprints in the database can be utilized easily to conduct identity theft or impersonation. Therefore, it is extremely important to protect the database against possible misuses. In this paper we propose using synthetic fingerprint minutiae templates generated with pseudorandom number generator to protect genuine fingerprint templates. Our experimental results show that fingerprint minutiae templates can still match successfully even after being inserted with large number of foreign minutiae and that the pseudorandomly generated synthetic minutiae templates can be utilized to protect real templates.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Qinghai Gao
Dr. Qinghai Gao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Security Systems at Farmingdale State College. Before joining Farmingdale, he taught as a full-time lecturer in China University of Petroleum from six years; from 1998 to 2007 he taught as Adjunct Professor in Brooklyn College, Lehman College, NYC College of Technology, College of Staten Island, and York College; since 2001 he held various positions in IT industry as Software Developer, Database Administrator, Network Engineer, Researcher, Consultant, and Information Security Specialist.
Dr. Gao received a Ph.D. in computer science from the City University of New York in 2007. He has published one book and 30 articles. His present research interests include Computer Security and Forensics, Biometrics, Cryptography, Nanotechnology, Bioinformatics, Smart Grid Security, National Security. Dr. Gao is a member of IEEE.
Kamal Shahrabi
Dr. Kamal Shahrabi received the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, in 1983, the M.E. Degree in Electrical Engineering from City College in New York, New York, NY, in 1985 and M. Phil. and Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from City University Of New York, New York, NY, in 1992. Kamal Shahrabi is a Dean of School of Engineering Technologies and Professor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology. He has been a professor in the Technology Department at Kean University of New Jersey since 1986-2007 and has been a Chairperson of the department since September 1998-2007. Dr. Shahrabi has published several papers in various areas of Communication, Robot Tracking in Space, Wireless Communication, Impact of Globalization of Advanced Telecommunication Technologies in Developing Countries, and High Speed Optical Satellite Communication and Femtosecond Pulse Shaping. Dr. Shahrabi has several years of experience in the areas of digital signal processing, space tracking, communication and satellite control systems while doing research at City University of New York for NASA.
In addition, Dr. Shahrabi has worked as a Visiting Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department with Institut Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia and he developed an engineering curriculum with DSP specialization for the institute (ITHO) during his stay. His research interests are in the fields of Digital Signal Processing Algorithms, Spread Spectrum, nanotechnology, sustainable energy, and Wireless Communication Systems.