Methods and systems for authenticating users

A computing device for authenticating users comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory configured to store at least enrollment masks and gray scale images, said computing device being associated with a network and said memory being in communication with said processor and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by said processor, cause said computing device to:
• generate an authentication mask from captured biometric data, the biometric data being captured from a user during an authentication matching transaction;
• generate a gray scale image from the captured biometric data;
• align the authentication mask with a user enrollment mask and the generated gray scale image with a user gray scale image;
• generate a biometric template from the aligned gray scale image;
• compare the authentication mask against the user enrollment mask to determine a region common to both;
• and
• authenticate the user with biometric data, included in the biometric template, within the common region.

A computer program recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium included in a computing device for authenticating users, the computer program being comprised of instructions, which when read and executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

• generate an authentication mask from captured biometric data, the biometric data being captured from a user during an authentication matching transaction;
• generate a gray scale image from the captured biometric data;
• align the authentication mask with a user enrollment mask and the generated gray scale image with a user gray scale image;
• generate a biometric template from the aligned gray scale image;
• compare the authentication mask against the user enrollment mask to determine a region common to both;
• and
• authenticate the user with biometric data, included in the biometric template, within the common region.