Business
Biometric attacks on the rise: the trends financial institutions need to be aware of in 2023
Criminals are now advancing across platforms, targeting mobile web, native Android, and native iOS via emulators
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 29, 2023/APO Group/ —
In the past year there has been a 149% increase in threat actors using emulators to attack mobile platforms. There has also been a 295% increase in novel face swaps. This is according to a new biometric threat intelligence report (https://apo-opa.info/3lTfEBa) by iProov. Gur Geva, founder and CEO of iiDENTIFii (https://iiDENTIFii.com/), a premier partner of iProov (https://www.iProov.com/) in Africa, says, “Biometric attacks continue to grow in volume, intensity and sophistication. If we are to successfully combat these risks, we need to uncover and understand the anatomy of biometric attacks.”
As governments and businesses continue to unlock new value and efficiency through digital services, one key challenge remains. Organisations need to be assured that the person on the other side of the screen is human, and are who they claim to be. INTERPOL’s first-ever Global Crime Trend report (https://apo-opa.info/3Khjy02) estimates that over 70 per cent of respondents (all from law enforcement) expect crimes such as ransomware and phishing attacks to increase significantly in the next three to five years. This renders traditional verification technologies such as one-time passwords (OTPs) outdated and a security risk. Biometrics such as iris and retina offer a deeper method of verification but fall short in terms of liveness – they cannot bind a digital identity to a real-world individual in motion. In addition to this, the technology used to capture this biometric data may not always be as accessible or inclusive as required.
Geva says, “We have worked with our local public and private sector partners to champion face-verification authentication in South Africa and beyond.” By scanning their facial features using their smartphone or tablet, individuals can verify their identity.
However, as this space grows, so do the threats to its safety. “Cybercriminals continue to find new, sophisticated ways to intercept this technology. With this in mind, organisations need to remember that not all face verification technologies can keep up with the rapidly changing threat landscape or have the same level of security, resilience and ability to adapt to novel threats.”
Understanding the anatomy of a biometric attack is crucial in helping the public and private sector make decisions based on real-world threat intelligence
Biometric security threats currently fall into two categories: presentation attacks and digital injection attacks. Presentation attacks refer to photos, videos or even masks being held up to a screen to fool the technology into mapping the features of the identity being defrauded. In the case of digital injection attacks, imagery is injected directly into the video stream, either through emulators, hacking tools, or virtual cameras. Geva explains, “In 2022, we witnessed injection attacks occur five times more frequently than persistent presentation attacks across the web. This is because injection attacks are far more scalable than presentation attacks, as they do not require the manual creation of a physical artefact or any physical presentation, but rather the creation of a highly automated attack machine.”
2022 saw dramatic changes in digital injection attacks. Criminals are now advancing across platforms, targeting mobile web, native Android, and native iOS via emulators. With the emergence and growth of sophisticated face swaps, low-skilled criminals now have the means to launch advanced attacks. Threat actors launched motion-based attacks simultaneously and at scale against hundreds of systems globally.
Three types of synthetic injection attacks dominated the threat landscape in 2022: two-dimensional image face swaps, image-to-video deepfakes and video face swaps. The iProov report defines face swaps as “a form of synthetic imagery created using two inputs where a criminal combines traits from one face, such as motion, with the appearance of another face to create a new synthetic 3D video output”. This results in a product that carries the person’s individual facial features “so accurately that the imagery can match their government-issued identification photograph.”
Cybercriminals now have access to publicly available prepacked tools from code depository websites, allowing them to create and launch advanced synthetic attacks with little skill. In addition to this, the Crime-as-a-Service economy enables bad actors to buy, sell, and share attack methods over the dark web. A recent Europol report (https://apo-opa.info/3M0fylS) stated that Deepfakes-as-a-service has led to organisations delivering tailored deepfakes upon request.
Geva concludes, “Understanding the anatomy of a biometric attack is crucial in helping the public and private sector make decisions based on real-world threat intelligence, ensuring technology meets the anticipated threats. The technology organisations use to detect liveness has to be equipped with the latest defence. At iiDENTIFii, our platform is informed by the most recent research into biometric threats.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of iiDENTIFii.
Events
As global power structures shift, Invest Africa convenes The Africa Debate 2026 to redefine partnership in a changing world
The Africa Debate 2026 will provide a platform for this essential, era-defining discussion, convening leaders to explore how Africa and its partners can build more balanced, resilient and sustainable models of cooperation
Now in its 12th year, The Africa Debate has established itself as London’s premier platform for African investment dialogue since launching in 2014, convening over 800 global decision-makers annually to shape the future of trade, finance, investment, and development across the continent.
Under the theme “Redefining Partnership: Navigating a World in Transition”, this year’s forum will focus on Africa’s response to global economic realignment with greater agency, ambition and economic sovereignty.
The Africa Debate puts Africa’s priorities at the centre of the conversation, moving beyond traditional narratives to focus on ownership, resilience and long-term value creation.
“Volatility is not new to Africa. What is changing is the opportunity to respond with greater agency and ambition,” says Invest Africa CEO Chantelé Carrington.
“This year’s edition of The Africa Debate asks how we strengthen economic sovereignty — from access to capital and investment to financial and industrial policy — so African economies can take greater ownership of their growth. Success will be defined by how effectively we turn disruption into leverage and partnership into shared value.”
The Africa Debate 2026 will provide a platform for this essential, era-defining discussion, convening leaders to explore how Africa and its partners can build more balanced, resilient and sustainable models of cooperation.
Key challenges driving the debate
Core focus areas for this year’s edition of The Africa Debate include:
This year’s edition of The Africa Debate asks how we strengthen economic sovereignty — from access to capital and investment to financial and industrial policy
Global Realignment & New Partnerships
How shifting geopolitical and economic power structures are reshaping Africa’s global partnerships, trade dynamics and investment landscape.
Financing Africa’s Future
The growing need to reform the global financial architecture, new approaches to development finance, as well as the strengthening of market access and financial resilience of African economies in a changing global system.
Strategic Value Chains
Moving beyond primary exports to build local value chains in critical minerals for the green economy. Also addressing Africa’s energy access gap and mobilising investment in renewable and transitional energy systems.
Digital Transformation & Technology
Unlocking growth in fintech, AI and digital infrastructure to drive productivity, inclusion, and the next phase of Africa’s economic transformation.
The Africa Debate 2026 offers a unique platform for high-level dialogue, deal-making, and strategic engagement. Attendees will gain actionable insights from leading policymakers, investors and business leaders shaping Africa’s economic future, while building strategic partnerships that define the continent’s next growth phase.
Registration is now open (http://apo-opa.co/46b19gj).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.
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