Generating Random Sequences from Fingerprints

Biometrics are traditionally employed in user authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vast majority of research effort focuses on applications of biometrics in authentication, aiming to replace passwords as the access control mechanism for cryptographic keys in one way or another. However, the inherent variability in biometrics presents a readily available source of randomness, which, in theory, can be exploited for random number generation. The aim of this paper is to present an overview of the field, propose a new method for random sequence generation using fingerprints, and estimate the entropy of fingerprint shift and rotation, which are seen as key factors contributing to the security of the produced keys.