That was my first thought too... sometimes if I get a cold people can instantly tell it because my voice changes.
It would take a REALLY good algorithm to get around that.
Also, what about voice actors? Or recordings? You could in theory game the biometric to think the real user was calling, just like you can hold a picture up to many of the facial recognition webcam software and wiggle it to get the algorithm to "recognize" the owner and unlock the device.
Biometrics are still too much of a work in progress imho for serious privacy/security applications; they are however fascinating from a research perspective.
From what I've read, there are always password backup systems to biometric solutions -- definitely one drawback to the technology, since IT departments must implement dual systems for primary and secondary means of access. I recall speaking to a company that used fingerprint biometrics for its workers' timecards. For some reason, two employees' fingerprints were unusable and they had to access the system via traditional password.
The Americans with Disabilities rules, too, must be adhered to. Other countries, I'd think, have similar rules to prevent discrimination; that would also extend to people's ability to log-on.
One concern about any form of biometric security is what happens when access is compromised. You can reissue someone a new password, but it's not so easy to reissue their fingerprint, or retina-print, or voice.
Also, will the voice recognition work if the user has laryngitis, cold, or allergy attack?
I like the idea of using voice for security. Actually, I like the idea of using anything uninvasive for security that doesn't involve passwords. I don't know that brain-controlled access is anything close to reality in terms of opening our applications and logging on to networks, but surely we are getting close to wider adoption of voice or fingerprint biometrics for day-to-day computer use?
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