The news last week that two major British banks had adopted biometric security for their mobile apps has since provoked some lively debate in the United Kingdom, with poorly constructed arguments in mainstream media again highlighting public misconceptions over the industry.”Bank app 'can be hacked by almost anybody'”, screamed a tabloid headline, with “experts” saying that banking with Touch ID was akin to “leaving house keys under the door mat”. The fact that acquiring a customer's password or PIN would almost certainly be easier and less time-consuming than spoofing a fingerprint is conveniently omitted. As is the fact that the system appears to employ a sensible risk-conscious approach to authentication, with users being asked for password verification if their login fails three times.With identity theft and bank fraud spiralling – and even the sanctity of secure chipmakers' technology allegedly under attack from national intelligence agencies – it is unfortunate that the misinformed are taking aim at potentially more secure and convenient forms of authentication, just because scaremongering sells newspapers.More importantly, the adoption of biometric banking remains on a steep upward trajectory. The fact that some choose to focus on the technology's potential flaws just serves as a reminder of the importance of managing public expectations while building a strong case for biometrics' advantages.

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