Biometric Technology Limits How Online Identity Theft Predators Get Access to Your Personal Information
A new technology being rolled out by a Stamford, Connecticut-based identity security and identity theft prevention technology firm may be able to help reduce the incidences of electronics being stolen by identity thieves for the sole purpose of stealing the personal identification information stored within in.
L-1 Identity Solutions announced on Wednesday that it had obtained a $9.9 million contract over the next three years to produce "advanced live scan biometric capture systems" to be used as part of the USCIS immigrant citizenship application process.
The devices, which will be live scan systems that digitally capture fingerprints and store the personal identification information with the FBI, will be used as part of the Department of Homeland Security âFirst Source program.â The fingerprint data will be used to conduct criminal background checks prior to determinations on whether or not to grant immigration benefits to applicants.
The first wave of biometric devices to be created under the contract will make their debut in the next six months at all 134 U.S. Customs and Immigration Service Application Support Centers in the U.S. and its territories of Saipan, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
"Our technology is flexible, scalable and easily deployed in any customer environment as a state-of-the-art system for solving identity-related challenges, of particular importance today given national security concerns," said Robert V. LaPenta, Chairman, President and CEO of L-1. "Furthermore, our field service and support organization is second to none, and the dedication and skill the team brings helps ensure that we can stand up these sophisticated systems quickly and provide optimal value to our customers in support of current and future program requirements."
While the L-1 program is being designed specifically for immigration use, the concept of fingerprint technology could be utilized to protect suitcases and laptops that could contain important information that are often stolen by thieves looking to commit identity theft.
Last week, a laptop computer from Houston's Methodist Hospital containing information regarding 689 patients' personal identification information was reported missing. While hospital officials are unsure if any personal identification information has been accessed since the theft, a biometric device that requires a fingerprint scan to access the data would be sufficient prevention for such identity theft.
