by Gitanjali Rao
Edmondson Elementary School (Brentwood, TN)
First Place
Imagine a young student flipping up her laptop to find her essays, homework, and research, all deleted or stolen. This happens to millions of people around the world using the internet. Not only is it a problem when people use their identify, financial, or personal information, it becomes a larger issue when malicious users get access to computers and networks that run our government, military, banks or hospitals. These are the reasons why cybersecurity is probably the most important priority to address.
Cybersecurity is about protecting the electronic information and systems connected on the internet, from unwanted users. Cybersecurity, first and foremost, starts with the identification of the individuals accessing the systems, and verifying their right to access them. Today’s solutions for user-verification range from using simple passwords, to artificial intelligence and physical checks. While they have become increasingly better down the years, there are still holes that malicious users, or hackers, find and exploit to get unauthorized access. To address these challenges, most security solutions focus on making the boundaries of the system strong. This is called perimeter-security. However, this has proven to be ineffective. Today all modern security engineering is focused on solutions that secure system from within, instead of only relying on strong security at the door.
One particular technology I’m very interested in, which will help both approaches, is the use of biometrics. The interest developed from my recent involvement in forensics camp. Biometrics are attributes of a living person that uniquely identify the person. Biometric technology is readily available now and provides greater convenience to users to protect a door, car, phone, laptop or other devices. Fingerprinting is the most common technology used to identify a user, but there are several others including, DNA, irises, retina, voice patterns, palm prints, and facial patterns.
All of the biometrics that uniquely identifies a person have not been explored, which makes them an exciting emerging engineering challenge. While the current technology is very safe, there are still gaps. While using a fingerprint technology, hackers found a way to reproduce fingerprints of people using photographs. In March 2015, in Hamburg, Germany, a biometrics researcher, used a close-up photo of a German minister fingers taken at different angles to recreate an accurate thumbprint that can grant access to the systems.
This incident demanded that we, engineers come up with a new and advanced secure solution that enhances or supplements fingerprints. An exciting technology that is currently being worked on combines biometrics and neuroscience. It is called Olfactory-printing. It works on the principle that every person has a unique sense of smell. A human body creates the unique olfactory-print by combining the six million smell sensors with 400 known smells. Systems can use this print to uniquely identify and verify the user. This is a far more robust solution as the combination of a fingerprint with odor cannot be replicated with the help of an image or similar means. It has the same convenience as a fingerprint and the user still does not have to remember passwords or other devices.
Olfactory-print for cybersecurity is a promising solution, however it has some challenges related to safety and privacy. Olfactory-print and fingerprint information are digitally stored for verification. These data storages can also be hacked. Similarly, olfactory-prints are private medical information, which can be used for medical diagnosis. Falling in wrong hands can be a privacy risk that compromises the well-being of an individual. Given more research needs to be done, it will be harmful to consider and rely on them for cybersecurity. I think a better approach would be to use verification technologies where we do not have to store these prints anywhere, and everything is real time. My recommendation is that we should improve olfactory-prints by combining with other emerging biometrics like brain signals. Since most of the hacks are targeted with a help of a software, the indication of a live person can reduce, if not eliminate attacks.
Cybersecurity and privacy will be major issues in the future. Solutions such as biometrics offer promising results. Engineers will be leading the charge in solving these problems. Their challenge would be to find innovative solutions balancing their expertise with social responsibilities.
References:
"Computer Security"; (retrieved on Dec 31st, 2015);
"Cyber Security Primer"; (retrieved on Dec 31st, 2015),
Department of Homeland Security website,
"Essential Layer of Cyberdefence"; (retrieved on Jan 5th, 2016); SAS®Cybersecurity website;
"Fingerprints and other Biometrics"; (retrieved on Jan 15th, 2016); FBI website;
"New ASU Cybersecurity center to proactively look at protecting data";(2015, Sep22nd); ASU website;
"Olfactory Biometrics to be used in fraud prevention"; (2009, June 4th); No available author
"Secure Cyberspace"; (retrieved on Dec 24th, 2016); Engineering Challenges.org;
"Smell fingerprints? Each person may have a unique sense of smell"; (2015, June 30th); Weizmann Institute of Science;
Campisi, P. (retrieved on Jan 17th, 2016); "Abstract: Biometrics and Neuroscience: a marriage possible?";
Khandelwal, S (2015, Mar. 6th); "Hackers found a simple way to fool IRIS Biometric security systems";
White,C. (2009);"Biometrics and Cybersecurity"