Cracking the Iris Attendance Machine
In theory, an iris attendance machine can be hacked, but it is very challenging. Iris recognition technology identifies individuals based on the unique patterns in the human iris, offering greater accuracy than fingerprint recognition. While fingerprints can change or wear smooth over time and through intensive work, iris patterns are highly stable.
The human eye comprises several parts, including the sclera, iris, pupil, lens, and retina. The iris, a ring-shaped section between the black pupil and the white sclera, features intricate patterns like interwoven spots, filaments, crowns, striations, and crypts. Once developed during fetal growth, these features remain unchanged for life, underscoring the uniqueness of iris identification.
Each iris has approximately 266 quantifiable feature points, whereas most biometric technologies have only 13 to 60. Iris recognition algorithms use these 266 points, with many technical resources describing how they achieve 173 independent feature points with binary degrees of freedom. This high number of unique points provides significant security.
Iris recognition also benefits from a natural “liveness” check, meaning it cannot be fooled by photos or images. Thus, iris-based attendance machines are generally very secure. Attempting to bypass the system requires modifying the database records, as it is nearly impossible to deceive the iris recognition technology itself.
Each attendance record is stored in the database, and only by modifying the database can one manipulate attendance records. Another approach is to adjust the attendance machine’s time settings, allowing re-recording of previous entries, but this requires opening the machine’s cover, which adds complexity.
How to Prevent Cheating with an Iris Attendance Machine
- Rely on Authentic Iris Recognition Technology: As long as the attendance machine uses genuine iris recognition, hacking or bypassing the system is difficult. The main focus should be on managing the software and the physical machine. Fake iris attendance machines, however, could be deceived by a photo.
- Prevent Database Tampering: Limit access to the management system software to administrative personnel only, reducing the risk of database manipulation.
- Prevent Time Manipulation: Regularly back up and export attendance records to prevent fraudulent entries after altering the machine’s time settings. Additionally, secure the machine’s cover or install surveillance equipment to deter unauthorized adjustments.