比指纹识别更保险的技术面世 用心电图当密码或将普及

    尽管如此，这种设备肯定也存在其它一些类型的安全风险，尤其是识别系统与其它系统进行互联和数据分享的节点上还是有很多可以让黑客做手脚的空间。目前，Nymi和AxisKey只把用户的生物特征信息保存在本地设备上，同时予以高度加密。Nymi在这方面则走得更超前一些，它开放了产品的源代码，同时鼓励所谓的“白帽黑客”挑战它所有的漏洞。“如果有人发现了缺陷，我们可以马上解决。”（破解了iPhone 5S指纹传感器的马克•罗杰斯也预订了一台Nymi。）

    这些系统能否获得成功不仅取决于高度的安全性，也取决于它的实用性和集成性。这也是iPhone 5S指纹传感器的另一个痛点——目前它的唯一用途就是解锁iPhone，以及确认用户在苹果商店里的消费。

    相比之下，Bionym和Sonavation都在积极地追求合作伙伴，希望以他们的设备为核心打造一整套生态系统。这两家公司目前都在与线上快速身份验证联盟（FIDO）开展合作。FIDO致力于在贝宝（PayPal）和谷歌（Google）等网络巨头支持下，为无密码网络身份验证制订行业标准。Bionym公司目前正在与几大航空公司洽谈，希望能为旅客提供更加流畅的出行体验；同时，它也在与一些汽车厂商接洽。Sonavation公司则正在与ATM机厂商展开合作，同时它的伙伴还包括为银行等企业客户生产高安全性安防系统的HID Global公司，以及为高级政府承包商生产随机密钥生成器的RSA公司等。

    从这两家公司各自的合作伙伴中可以看出，他们各自瞄准了不同的目标顾客——Bionym公司的目标顾客是普通消费者，Sonavation的目标客户是高端企业（也包括高价值的个人客户）。同时他们的技术也有着不同的用途：AxisKey产品像钥匙一样的功能很适合用于解锁或登陆，Nymi随时在线的模式则在便利性和个性化方面提供了全新的用途前景。

    Bionym公司的马丁说：“其他生物体征识别技术都是比较事务性的，而不具有持续性。”而Nymi技术的持续性使它非常适合成为智能家居的控制器，为消费者营造良好的智能家居体验。同时，Nymi也支持手势互动，使用户可以更清晰地向设备发送指令，比如做拧动钥匙的手势就可以发动汽车，另外它也可以分清锁门或开锁的动作。

    Nymi除了时尚的设计以及它的开源承诺外，它还很容易获得科技发烧友（比如谷歌眼镜的早期购买者）的芳心。当然，前提是Bionym公司能攻克心电辨识技术的变量问题。

    AxisKey腕带只是Sonavation公司的第一步，这也是它从政府市场向国防市场的转型产品。这家公司打算每月销集100万个声纳扫描芯片——买家当然是各大移动设备厂商。这些厂商表示，为了满足广域市场，他们需要的订单量将是这个数字的10倍。（Sonavation的斯图尔特称，他第一次与一家手机厂商会面，听到对方提出这个数字时，“下巴都快掉到地上了。”）

    不久的将来，我们可能会用上一系列生物体征识别技术来保护我们的数据安全。它们是否会让生活变得更加简单舒心？到时候才能知道。但不管怎样，我应该不用再为我的112个密码操心了。（财富中文网）

    译者：朴成奎

    Other security risks are sure to emerge, though, at the many points where identity systems connect and share data with other systems. Both the Nymi and AxisKey only store a person's biometric data locally on the device, under heavy encryption. Nymi is going a step further by making its product open-source and challenging white-hat hackers to have a go at it. "If someone finds a flaw, we can address it right away." (Marc Rogers, who defeated the iPhone 5s sensor, has already signed up to get a Nymi on release.)

    The success of these systems will depend at least as much on usability and integration as on superior security. So far, that has been another major failing of the iPhone 5s scanner -- its only current use is to unlock iPhones and confirm purchases within Apple (AAPL) environments.

    By contrast, both Bionym and Sonavation are aggressively pursuing partnerships, hoping to build entire ecosystems with their devices at the core. Both companies are working with the Fast Identity Online Alliance, or FIDO, which is working to set standards for non-password authentication with support from PayPal (EBAY) and Google (GOOG). Bionym is in talks with airlines hoping to provide smoother passenger experiences, as well as with auto manufacturers. Sonavation is partnering with ATM manufacturers; HID Global, who makes high-security systems for clients like banks; and RSA, who makes the grey random-number-generating fobs used by high-clearance government contractors.

    That contrast in each company's partners points to their different target customers -- everyday consumers for Bionym, higher-end enterprises (and high net-worth individuals) for Sonavation -- and the different uses for each technology: While AxisKey's discrete key-like function is fine for locks and logons, Nymi's always-on identity offers entirely new uses oriented to convenience and personalization.

    "The other biometrics are really transactional in nature," Bionym's Martin says. "There's no persistence to that trust." Persistence will let the Nymi key in to ambient smart home controls and tailor consumer and hospitality experiences. The Nymi will also support gesture-based interactions, allowing users to communicate their desires to devices more clearly, such as by twisting their wrist to start a car, or to distinguish between locking and unlocking a door.

    Add to that the Nymi's more stylish design and its commitment to open source, and it's easy to pick it as the device poised to capture the imagination (and dollars) of Google Glass-wearing early adopters. That is, of course, if Bionym can overcome the variability issues with ECG verification.

    But AxisKey is only a first step for Sonavation, which is producing the keyfob as it transitions from government and defense markets -- to which it was prepared to sell about a million of its sonar-scanning chips a month -- to working with mobile device manufacturers, which have said they'd need more than 10 times that to serve the broader market. (Sonavation's Stewart says that when he first heard the numbers in a meeting with a phone manufacturer, "I had to pick my jaw up off the floor.")

    In the future, we may find ourselves using a variety of biometric solutions to secure our identity. Will they make life more comfortable and seamless? We'll find out. Whatever the case, I'll take it over my 112 passwords.