Today, people use a keyboard, mouse, and touchscreen as input methods. However, voice recognition software and apps are rapidly gaining popularity as they are fast and efficient.
Various applications of voice recognition in the business world include searching for documents on PC, creating tables and graphs using data, and document dictation. Voice recognition apps also allow companies and teams to schedule meetings and start video conferencing, and recently with Voxpow – to easily embed speech recognition in any website.
A voice recognition technology, for example, speech-to-text, helps people with physical disabilities to use a computer and dictate documents. Although there are many advantages of using voice recognition technology in different aspects of life, many people want to know secure is this technology.
In today’s article, we will focus on explaining the security of voice recognition technology. Make sure you read this post carefully so that you can make an informed decision while purchasing a voice recognition app or software.
Voice Recognition Technology and Security
Nowadays, IT companies and call centers are using the technology to authenticate callers’ voiceprints. The purpose of using voice recognition technology is to avoid fraudulent activities and avoiding the hassle of asking security questions. Combined with face recognition and voice recognition technology can help build multimodal biometric applications.
Everyone knows that voice recognition technology requires a microphone to listen or record the human voice. Once done, software or app can accurately identify the voice and allow an Internet of Things (IoT) device to perform a specific function.
For instance, the technology has found itself a great niche with IoT as it allows for securing the device-to-device network. The voice recognition technology securely pairs smart devices with your smartphone app. For example, no one can breach your home due to voice-secured smart locks.
Although someone can record your voice and use it to do fraudulent things, an advanced voice recognition app will send you mobile alerts. Primarily, it is because IoT devices only operate with paired smartphones. So, a thief, hacker, or criminal can’t use your voice or cause significant damage.
It is essential to use a voice recognition app that recognizes voice cloning. Otherwise, people are at risk of losing their confidential information to hackers who use “Dolphin attacks” to breach security.
Voice Recognition vs. Fingerprint
Many organizations have been researching voice recognition and fingerprints. For example, banks in the UK, U.S, Canada, France, Germany, and Ireland are making efforts to test both technologies. The HSBC, which is an investment banking company in the UK, uses voice recognition technology in its banking system.
According to the banking company, many employees have appreciated the incorporation of voice recognition technology. However, they have also asked questions about its security. For example, HSBC surveyed the security of technology.
The participants of the study were HSBC employees and the general public. Over 76% said that voice recognition technology is more secure than fingerprints. Around 18% of participants voted for the effectiveness of fingerprint, while the remaining 6% did not answer the questions.
Anyway, many people are talking about the issue of high-quality voice recording and questioning whether or not it can beat or trick the technology. Research shows that it is not easy to record high-quality audio and use it to breach the system. On the other hand, criminals and thieves can quickly get someone’s fingerprints and use them to unlock phones and access lockers.
Hackers stealing fingerprints data can also sell it to third-party criminal organizations and terrorist networks. Although fingerprint technology seems secure, in reality, it has many disadvantages. Also, we are not saying that voice recognition is 100% secure, for sure there is a room for improvement.
A high-quality voice recording can’t trick the voice recognition system, which means it is hard for scammers and hackers to breach the system and cause the damage. Experts argue that a scammer or hacker would need to develop an advanced program that uses someone’s voice to repeat phrases asked by the voice recognition app.
A copy of your voice won’t trick the system because there are many voice recognition apps with advanced algorithms that only recognize the natural voice. Again, HSBC said voice recognition had offered an extra layer of security for their customers. So, voice recognition technology is an excellent solution for financial companies and banks.
Voice Recognition Technology in Biometrics – Is it secure?
Advanced technology and innovation in artificial intelligence have benefited government sectors, companies, and organizations to set high-security protocols. At the same time, it has provided its perks to the criminals and offenders. After all, anyone can use the technology in their unique way.
Anyway, the voiceprint technology, also known as voice biometrics, is an essential application of voice recognition technology. Indeed, it is one of the best breakthroughs in AI, machine learning, and neural networks.
It is a technology that implements algorithms to identify the unique vocal patterns of a customer. The voice biometric technology allows access to the customer after properly verifying his or her voice.
The most exciting thing about voice recognition technology is its robust analysis. For instance, it records a person’s voice and then analyzes it with thousands of unique voice components. If there is a difference of 0.01%, the system won’t allow for accessing his or her personal information. The technology, in particular, is very beneficial for banking systems.
Voice recognition technology offers higher security than other biometric modalities, such as passwords, iris scanning, fingerprints, etc. All security technologies require a person to be present in the bank and interact with the device directly. On the other hand, voice recognition technology does not require a person’s physical presence to come in contact with the device directly.
Final Words
Voice recognition technology is, without a doubt, a touchstone in the current high-tech era. We expect more advances in this technology in the coming years. Although it is highly secured, hackers are continuously trying to develop advanced systems to crack the technology.
Therefore, researchers and AI developers must focus on introducing new features, such as anti-impressionist, on making it more secure. Lastly, our verdict is “Yes,” voice recognition technology is secured. However, more efforts are required to encounter hackers and scammers.
* sources
- https://www.techdigest.tv/2019/04/hsbcs-voice-recognition-technology-has-saved-bank-300-million-in-fraud.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/19/hsbc-rolls-out-voice-touch-id-security-bank-customers
- https://engageemployee.com/hsbc-first-bank-to-use-voice-recognition-for-telephone-banking-customers/
