Enhanced security can be achieved combining biometrics and cryptographic concepts together. Aiming for security enhancement, this paper presents a scheme for merging multiple fingerprints with a cryptographic concept, the fuzzy vault. Thereby multiple fingerprints are eligible to lock and unlock a secret securely embedded within the multiple-control fuzzy vault. Given either threshold, compartmented or multilevel secret sharing access structures, different security aspects can be directed and enhanced. Given the capability of merging multiple biometrics/fingerprints with secret sharing structures implies additionally a major security enhancement. Valuable application scenarios are outlined and security achievements highlighted.
['Marianne Hirschbichler', 'Colin Boyd', 'Wageeh W. Boles']
A Scheme for Enhancing Security Using Multiple Fingerprints and the Fuzzy Vault