Boffins use Play-Doh to fool biometrics

Fake fingers fool biometric security systems in nine out of 10 attempts

Researchers from Clarkson University in New York have managed to fool biometric systems by making fingerprint copies using Play-Doh.

Testing a range of biometric technologies the team created 60 fake fingers which were successfully authenticated by the combination of the fingerprint readers and their accompanying software in nine out of every 10 attempts.

"Digits from cadavers and fake fingers moulded from plastic, or even something as simple as Play-Doh or gelatin, can potentially be misread as authentic," said Stephanie Schuckers, associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Clarkson University.

But the research also highlighted ways of mitigating against such fraud. The team developed a technique for distinguishing live digits by detecting changing moisture patterns, successfully reducing the false detection rate to less than 10 per cent.

The research is funded by the US Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Homeland Security.

A photograph of Ms Schuckers demonstrating the Play-Doh finger can be seen here.