Enhancing the security of mobile e-commerce with a hybrid biometric authentication system

Mobile devices and wireless technologies seem destined to make a large and continuing impact on our lives. Mobile devices especially have been widely used in the last few years, and recent developments in wireless technologies have provided some new solutions to connectivity problems. Wireless technologies provide a new channel for implementation of mobile payments systems, the potential of short-range wireless technologies in commercial markets is enormous. Furthermore, as the popularity of m-commerce increases, so does the need for protecting personal privacy and online data. Several user authentication schemes for mobile e-commerce are starting to be introduced. This paper discusses some single factor and hybrid authentication methods currently in use, or being planned, for e-commerce and m-commerce. It also suggests a hybrid three-factor authentication scheme for mobile commerce, especially for voice-based mobile commerce, that uses speech recognition and speaker verification technology. Some issues relevant to such a scheme are also discussed.