The idea of a safe that reads your fingerprints or other biometric information seems like a spy movie trope. However, these technologies are no longer science fiction and have many applications in today's world.

Right now, you can even get a biometric safe for your home. If you're curious about what a biometric safe is, how they work, and what they're suitable for, look no further - this short piece will explain everything you need to know.

What Does It Mean to Be Biometric?

Before we can explain what makes the best biometric safe, it's essential to understand the concept of biometrics itself.

The goal of any security system has always been control - namely, control over which people can and cannot access a particular place (such as the inside of a safe). This can be done through information (like a code) or an object (like a key or pass card).

But what if the "key" could be your own body? Everyone has certain unique features that cannot be replicated. Using these as the "key," you can ensure that only certain people gain access to a safe - without worrying about losing a code or key.

There are many types of biometrics, including retinal recognition and voice recognition. One of the most popular is fingerprint recognition, which is based on the fact that every person has a unique set of fingerprints.

What Kinds of Biometrics Are Used?

There are many different types of biometric technologies and many different types of biometrics measured.

The most commonly measured biometric is the fingerprint. Your fingerprints are unique; no two people have the same fingerprints, no matter how closely they may be related. Therefore, your fingerprint can work as a biometric safe access key or as a replacement for your signature.

Many military and law-enforcement technologies also use facial identification biometric algorithms and cameras. These technologies measure facial proportions and features to identify individuals, even if they are disguised or have aged for several years. Such biometric technology is essential when catching criminals.

Other biometric devices may use iris scanning. Like your fingerprints, your irises are unique, and no one has the same irises as you. Irises can be used in place of fingerprints or signatures for legal contracts or for gaining access to sensitive areas like bank vaults.

Are Biometrics Secure?

Biometrics are secure by their very nature. Since biometrics focuses on scanning and analyzing the unique physical attributes of a person. Biometric details can't be replicated or fooled.

For example, if you use your fingerprint to open a safe, you can rest assured that no one can open a safe after you since they don't have the same fingerprint.

Similarly, a bank manager may use an iris scanner to enter a bank vault. The bank manager has peace of mind knowing that no one can replicate that specific iris.

Because biometric technology is so helpful for law enforcement and security, it has spread throughout many industries and is now available on devices like smartphones. Many modern smartphones have fingerprint scanners that utilize biometrics to prevent anyone unauthorized from getting access to your phone, photos, and records.

Similarly, biometric technology is now often used for fingerprint safes.

How Does a Biometric Fingerprint Safe Work?

From the understanding that everyone has a unique fingerprint, we can start better understand how a fingerprint biometric safe works. The concept is relatively simple.

Start by pressing your finger against the safe. A camera or scanner on the device will record your fingerprint and will be able to recognize it in the future.

The safe will unlock whenever a registered fingerprint is read on the pad. It won't open under any other circumstances.

What are the Benefits of Biometric Safes?

Due to their designs and durability, biometric safes offer many distinct advantages and benefits compared to other types of safes.

Increased Security

With a biometric safe, you can ensure that only people you allow have their fingerprints recorded. This means that only these select people can open the safe, and no one else. Biometric safes are ideal for protecting highly sensitive or even dangerous items.

For example, small biometric gun safes are becoming increasingly popular for storing handguns at home. These small biometrics are perfect for keeping potentially dangerous firearms at home out of the hands of intruders or children.

In contrast, dial-based safes can have their combinations guessed or stolen if those combinations are written down on paper.

Similarly, safes that use keys or passcodes on keypads can be breached if the key is lost or replicated or if the passcode is guest by a burglar or other unauthorized person.

Quick Access

But that's not all the perks that biometric safes bring to the table. They are better than other safes because they give you quick access to whatever valuables you may have, like jewelry, personal documents, or firearms.

With a traditional, dial-based safe, you must kneel by the safe and remember the combination, then carefully rotate the dial back and forth. If you mess up, you have to start all over. This can be a terrible situation if you are trying to retrieve your self-defense firearm.

Biometric safes are much better for quick access to your equipment or valuables because:

• You can quickly put your thumbprint on the scanner
• The computer immediately recognizes your identity
• The safe opens up and gives you access to its contents all in a matter of seconds

This kind of quick access is even more critical in a home defense situation or when you are trying to retrieve valuables quickly. For example, if you need to get critical legal documents out of the safe, a biometric safe will allow you to do that more quickly than the typical dial or key safe.

Never Lose Your Key

As an added benefit, biometric safes provide more peace of mind than safes that use keys or passcodes.

If you forget a passcode to your safe or lose a key that allows you to open it, you'll have to figure out a way to open the safe or have another key replicated. You may even have to hire a safe-cracking company to access your safe's contents in the future. That can get expensive.

With a biometric scanner, your thumbprint is memorized by the computer. You don't have to worry about remembering anything, nor do you need to worry about someone stealing your safe passcode, so you can't get inside any longer.

The best safes provide maximum peace of mind and allow you to rest easily since you always know where your valuables are.

It Can't Be Replicated

Perhaps most importantly, biometric safes use keys, your fingerprints, that can't be replicated.

With a safe that uses a key or passcode, the key or passcode can be replicated or stolen by someone who shouldn't get access to your safe. But your fingerprint cannot be replicated easily or at all.

Although some spy movies make it seem like replicating a fingerprint is easy, the opposite is true. Someone can't, for example, replicate your fingerprint by placing scotch tape over a thumbprint left behind on your desk.

Modern biometric scanners are much more sensitive than you think. They'll know when someone is trying to fabricate your thumbprint, and it won't let them inside. Since your thumbprint is unique, no one can present their finger to the safe scanner and get inside your safe.

The Biocube

As a company dedicated to making the best safes possible, Mycube is proud to have a biometric safe of our own - the Biocube.

Just as tough as any of our other products, the Biocube comes with a proprietary biometric lock that can store up to ten different fingerprints, making it among the best biometric safes out there.

You can find the ideal safe for your needs. Put your valuables in our hands today.

Sources:

Biometrics | Homeland Security

How Do Biometric Fingerprint Safes Work? Benefits and Important Information | All About Safes

Are Fingerprints Determined by Genetics? | Medline Plus