Efficient live face detection to counter spoof attack in face recognition systems

Abstract

Face recognition is a critical tool used in almost all major biometrics based security systems. But recognition, authentication and liveness detection of the face of an actual user is a major challenge because an imposter or a non-live face of the actual user can be used to spoof the security system. In this paper, a robust technique is proposed which detects liveness of faces in order to counter spoof attacks. The proposed technique uses a three-dimensional (3D) fast Fourier transform (FFT) to compare spectral energies of a live face and a fake face in a mathematically selective manner. The mathematical model involves evaluation of energies of selective high frequency bands of average power spectra of both live and non-live faces. It also carries out proper recognition and authentication of the face of the actual user using the fringe-adjusted joint transform correlation technique, which has been found to yield the highest correlation output for a match. Experimental tests using real life datasets show that the proposed technique yields excellent results for identifying live faces.