Natural Security Alliance rolls out biometric strong authentication mobile service

The Natural Security Alliance has begun deploying its “Natural Security” application for all iOS and Android devices, allowing mobile biometric authentication without a biometrically-enabled smart phone. San Jose State University in California and Envies de Saison, a fast food chain in the Lille region of France are now using the “Trusted Authentication Operator,” and Auchan payments hypermarket and European betting operator PMU are expected to join soon, the organization announced Friday.

“The introduction of this operator fosters the creation of a trusted ecosystem for all parties involved,” said Natural Security Alliance CEO Cédric Hozanne. “The hands-free ergonomics of the solution meets both the need for simplicity expressed by users and the need for fluidity expressed by the physical points of acceptance; with a real return on investment. For service providers, the Natural Security application is enticing, and reinforces the attractiveness of their proximity and online services.”

Natural Security can strongly authenticate by comparing the a fingerprint taken from a reader at the point of acceptance with the data stored in the app, and also using the mobile device, which can remain in the user’s pocket because it does not need to be touched. This strong authentication can then be used for proximity services payments, access control, or cash withdrawal.

Natural Security also received the first biometric system authorization from the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (French Data Protection Authority). The Natural Security Alliance actively cooperated with the French Data Protection Authority through years of research and development on the system. The resulting service uses Enciphered Repudiable Biometric Chained Token to guarantee the security of the user’s biometric data.

“The Alliance is the sole company today proposing biometric authentication to the general public which has been authorized by the French Data Protection Authority,” said Ugo Dallemagne, head of Natural Security Alliance’s legal advisory committee. “Thus this authorization constitutes a genuine guarantee of trust for our users. Moreover, this acknowledgment as Trusted Authentication Operator allows the Alliance to stand as an intermediary between all actors of the service and exempts the service providers (e.g. banks, retailers) from requesting an authorization for biometric authentication.”

Article Topics

biometric authentication  |  biometrics  |  mobile  |  Natural Security  |  secure transactions