Consumers Trust Fingerprint Biometrics over Photo Identification- Unisys Poll

A recent online poll by Unisys Corporation reveals that consumers trust fingerprint biometrics over photo identification, PIN numbers or handwritten signatures to verify their identities when using a credit card or requesting personal information. The results indicate increasing consumer acceptance of biometric technologies to secure financial transactions and combat identity fraud.

Responding to the question, "Which do you believe is the safest method to prove your credit card is being used by you?" the online poll found that 63 percent of more than 300 respondents preferred fingerprints as the best method for identity verification and authentication as compared to photo identification (20 percent), PIN numbers (13 percent) and handwritten signatures (six percent).

"As we move to an increasingly digital era, traditional methods of identity verification will no longer be sufficient," said Bryan Ichikawa, vice president of identity solutions, Unisys. "As our poll shows, biometric identification is a valid and preferred method of identity authentication which could prove valuable in a variety of fields even beyond banking such as in healthcare and transportation security."

These findings, that show a growing comfort level among respondents with biometric security, complement results of the April 2010 Unisys Security Index which revealed similar findings in most countries surveyed. For example, the Unisys Security Index found that 93 percent of Americans are willing to supply a biometric to increase physical safety at airports. Sixty-five percent of Americans responded they would cooperate with full electronic body scans at the airport and 55 percent would be willing to submit to identity checks using biometric data such as iris scans or fingerprints.

This online poll of 305 respondents was fielded between September 20 and October 4, 2010.

About Unisys
Unisys is a worldwide information technology company. We provide a portfolio of IT services, software, and technology that solves critical problems for clients. We specialize in helping clients secure their operations, increase the efficiency and utilization of their data centers, enhance support to their end users and constituents, and modernize their enterprise applications. To provide these services and solutions, we bring together offerings and capabilities in outsourcing services, systems integration and consulting services, infrastructure services, maintenance services, and high-end server technology. With approximately 23,000 employees, Unisys serves commercial organizations and government agencies throughout the world. For more information, visit www.unisys.com.