One in four Hongkongers willing to hand over DNA info to banks if it means greater security

Most Hongkongers would like their mobile devices to recognise them by their fingerprint, voice or another biometric option as they consider these to be safer and more convenient than typed-in passwords, a new survey shows.  

Telecommunications firm Telstra found that the majority of respondents to its poll used their smartphone as the primary channel for managing their finances. 

"When it comes to mobile banking applications, consumers no longer believe in just the safety of passwords and usernames," said Rocky Scopelliti, the company’s global industry executive for banking, finance and insurance. 

"More than two-thirds of Hong Kong consumers think that using biometrics – such as voice, fingerprint, iris and facial recognition - would be more secure and help reduce the risks of fraud." 

Telstra surveyed 4,272 consumers of financial services in seven countries and regions: Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

Telstra found that one in four Hong Kong respondents were willing to share even their DNA information with their bank if it meant the authentication process would be easier and their financial and personal information more secure.