Aware Raises the Bar with Industry-Leading Biometric Certifications and Evaluations

Rhea-AI Summary

Aware (NASDAQ: AWRE) announced independent third-party evaluations and certifications validating its biometric liveness and identity verification technologies on Feb 17, 2026. Key results include ISO/IEC 30107-3 PAD testing with zero false rejections at Levels 1–2 and 100% completion at Level 3, ISO/IEC 19795-10 bias testing showing consistent performance across demographics, top-tier results in the DHS 2025 RIVR Selfie-to-Document Match track, and achievement of FIDO2 Server Certification.

These validations indicate strengthened fraud resistance, demographic fairness, and interoperability for passkey-based authentication in regulated environments.

Positive

• ISO/IEC 30107-3 PAD: zero false rejections at Levels 1–2; 100% completion at Level 3
• ISO/IEC 30107-3: zero successful attacks at Levels 2 and 3
• ISO/IEC 19795-10 bias testing: consistent performance across age, sex, and ethnicity
• DHS 2025 RIVR: one of five vendors meeting all DHS high performance goals
• DHS RIVR: one of three vendors with zero failure-to-extract for selfies and documents; lowest FMR
• Achieved FIDO2 Server Certification for passkey-based authentication

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction

-2.31%

1 alert

-2.31% News Effect

-$915K Valuation Impact

$39M Market Cap

0.1x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, AWRE declined 2.31%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. This price movement removed approximately $915K from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $39M at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

False rejections Levels 1–2: 0 false rejections User completion Level 3: 100% successful completion Successful attacks Levels 2–3: 0 successful attacks +5 more

8 metrics

False rejections Levels 1–2 0 false rejections ISO/IEC 30107-3 PAD evaluation for Aware Intelligent Liveness

User completion Level 3 100% successful completion ISO/IEC 30107-3 Level 3 testing of Intelligent Liveness

Successful attacks Levels 2–3 0 successful attacks Advanced spoofing attacks in ISO/IEC 30107-3 evaluation

DHS RIVR top performers 1 of 5 vendors Met all DHS-defined high performance goals in 2025 RIVR track

Zero failure-to-extract vendors 1 of 3 vendors Achieved zero failure-to-extract for selfie and ID document images

Booth number Booth #502 MRC Vegas event location for Aware Intelligent Liveness

MRC Vegas dates March 16–19 Conference dates mentioned for Aware’s presence at ARIA Resort & Casino

RIVR year 2025 U.S. DHS Remote Identity Validation Rally (RIVR) referenced in evaluation

Market Reality Check

Price: $1.69 Vol: Volume 19,569 is at 0.9x ...

normal vol

$1.69 Last Close

Volume Volume 19,569 is at 0.9x the 20-day average of 21,751 shares. normal

Technical Shares at $1.73, trading below the 200-day MA of $2.12 and 41.36% under the 52-week high.

Historical Context

4 past events · Latest: Oct 29 (Positive)

Pattern 4 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Oct 29	Q3 2025 earnings	Positive	+1.4%	Reported Q3 2025 revenue growth and improved adjusted EBITDA loss.
Oct 15	Earnings webcast set	Neutral	+0.4%	Announced scheduling details for the Q3 2025 results webcast.
Oct 14	FIDO certification	Positive	+4.3%	Earned FIDO Alliance Face Verification Certification after independent testing.
Sep 10	Product launch	Positive	-1.4%	Launched Intelligent Liveness with reduced error rates and faster capture speeds.

Pattern Detected

Recent news, especially certifications and product launches, has usually seen modest positive alignment, with one notable divergence on the Intelligent Liveness launch.

Recent Company History

Over the past several months, Aware has focused on strengthening its biometric portfolio and certifications. In September 2025 it launched Intelligent Liveness with faster capture and lower error rates, followed by FIDO Alliance Face Verification Certification in October 2025. Q3 2025 results on October 29 showed revenue of $5.1M and an improved adjusted EBITDA loss. Today’s independent evaluations and certifications extend this trajectory of emphasizing security, fairness, and standards-based validation for its biometric technologies.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights extensive third-party validation of Aware’s biometric capabilities, inc...

Analysis

This announcement highlights extensive third-party validation of Aware’s biometric capabilities, including ISO/IEC 30107-3 liveness testing, bias evaluations under ISO/IEC 19795-10, and strong performance in the DHS 2025 RIVR program. These results build on prior certifications and the Intelligent Liveness launch, underscoring a strategy focused on security, fairness, and standards compliance. Investors may track future updates on commercial adoption, additional government evaluations, and how these certifications support revenue growth and product differentiation over time.

Key Terms

generative ai, biometric liveness, presentation attack detection, iso/iec 30107-3, +4 more

8 terms

generative ai technical

"As generative AI accelerates the scale and sophistication of identity fraud"

Generative AI is a type of computer technology that can create new content, like text, images, or music, on its own. It’s important because it can produce realistic and useful material quickly, which could change how we create art, write stories, or even develop new products. Think of it as a smart robot that can invent and produce things almost like a human.

biometric liveness medical

"validating the performance, fairness, and real-world readiness of its biometric liveness"

Biometric liveness is the technology and checks that verify a scanned fingerprint, face, or voice belongs to a real, present person rather than a photo, mask, recording, or fake sample. For investors, it matters because strong liveness detection reduces identity fraud, helps meet regulatory know‑your‑customer rules, and influences how widely digital onboarding and payment systems are trusted and adopted—affecting revenue, fraud losses, and compliance costs.

presentation attack detection technical

"international standard for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Presentation Attack Detection (PAD)"

Presentation attack detection is the technology and procedures that spot and block attempts to trick biometric systems by showing fake fingerprints, photos, masks or recordings instead of a real person. For investors, strong detection lowers the risk of fraud, regulatory penalties and costly data breaches, preserves customer trust and reduces the chance that a company’s security failures will damage its value — like a better lock reducing theft risk.

iso/iec 30107-3 technical

"Aware Intelligent Liveness was independently evaluated in accordance with ISO/IEC 30107-3"

ISO/IEC 30107-3 is an international technical standard that specifies how to test and report the ability of biometric systems (such as fingerprint, face, or iris scanners) to detect fake or spoofed inputs. For investors, it functions like a safety inspection report for security products: clear, repeatable test results and reporting reduce the risk of fraud, regulatory setbacks, and customer rejection, and help assess the real-world reliability and marketability of biometric technology.

nvlap-accredited technical

"testing conducted by BixeLab, an NVLAP-accredited biometric testing laboratory"

NVLAP-accredited means a laboratory has been independently evaluated and approved by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) for following recognized testing and calibration standards. For investors, that accreditation signals the lab’s test results are reliable and accepted by regulators and customers, reducing technical and regulatory risk much like a building inspection certificate increases buyer confidence in a home’s condition.

false match rate technical

"Aware also demonstrated the lowest false match rate (FMR) across both random imposters"

False match rate is the share of times an automated matching system wrongly says two records, identities, or transactions are the same when they are not. Think of it like a security guard who lets the wrong person in because their photo looked similar. For investors, a high false match rate can lead to misbooked trades, incorrect ownership records, faulty analytics, regulatory breaches and reputational or financial losses, so lower rates improve trust in data-driven decisions.

fido2 server certification financial

"Aware recently achieved FIDO2 Server Certification, validating its ability"

FIDO2 Server Certification is an independent verification that a server’s implementation of the FIDO2 passwordless authentication standard meets agreed security and interoperability rules. Think of it like a safety inspection for digital locks: certified servers are more likely to work with secure login devices and reduce the risk of account breaches, which matters to investors because stronger authentication can lower fraud costs, regulatory risk and reputational damage.

passkey-based authentication technical

"securely support passkey-based authentication layered with biometric verification"

Passkey-based authentication replaces passwords with a cryptographic key pair stored on a user’s device so the user proves their identity without typing or transmitting a reusable secret; it works like a unique physical key kept in your pocket while the service only checks that the matching lock fits. Investors care because it reduces the risk of account breaches, lowers costs from password-related support and fraud, and can speed user adoption and regulatory compliance by improving security and convenience.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Third-party evaluations validate fraud-resilient, low-friction identity verification as deepfakes and injection attacks accelerate.

BURLINGTON, Mass., Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As generative AI accelerates the scale and sophistication of identity fraud, Aware, Inc. (NASDAQ: AWRE), a global leader in biometric identity and authentication solutions, is strengthening trust in its technology. The company today announced independent third-party evaluations and certifications validating the performance, fairness, and real-world readiness of its biometric liveness and identity verification technologies.

Deepfakes, synthetic identities, and injection attacks, where manipulated biometric data is injected directly into authentication flows, are no longer edge cases. They are increasingly scalable and harder to detect with traditional liveness approaches. For businesses, this shift raises the stakes, driving higher fraud losses, regulatory exposure, and customer friction when security disrupts user experience. Independent validation is essential to ensure identity technologies perform reliably under real-world attack conditions.

“Proof of identity lives in humans, not in credentials or user IDs,” said Ajay Amlani, CEO of Aware. “Biometrics remain the only way to prove identity at the source, but deepfakes and injection attacks have become a systemic risk. Aware applauds the tenacious work of the individuals setting these global standards, and customers should demand that their vendors comply with these industry-standard certifications to ensure they have the maximum protection available against this systemic risk.”

Independent Validation Against Modern Attack Scenarios

To support this need, Aware technology has undergone a series of third-party evaluations designed to assess security, fairness, and performance under realistic conditions.

Aware Intelligent Liveness was independently evaluated in accordance with ISO/IEC 30107-3, the international standard for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Presentation Attack Detection (PAD), following testing conducted by BixeLab, an NVLAP-accredited biometric testing laboratory. ISO/IEC 30107-3 defines standardized methods for assessing how effectively biometric systems can detect spoofing attempts using artifacts or manipulated biometric presentations, including advanced attacks designed to bypass liveness detection.

Across all three levels, Aware Intelligent Liveness demonstrated highly secure, frictionless performance, with zero false rejections of legitimate users at Levels 1 and 2 and 100% successful user completion at Level 3. Attack detection performance strengthened as attack sophistication increased, including zero successful attacks at Levels 2 and 3, where more advanced and realistic spoofing techniques were used. Together, the results demonstrate consistent performance across a range of attack scenarios, validating Aware Intelligent Liveness’ ability to balance fraud resistance and usability.

“Independent testing is critical in liveness detection, because attack techniques evolve constantly,” said Dr. Mohamed Lazzouni, CTO of Aware. “ISO/IEC 30107-3 compliant PAD evaluation helps customers understand how a solution performs against sophisticated presentation attacks, beyond vendor claims or controlled demos.”

Addressing Fairness and Consistency Through Bias Testing

Aware also completed independent biometric bias testing through BixeLab, NVLAP-accredited to conduct testing according to the internationally recognized standard ISO/IEC 19795-10, which evaluates whether biometric systems perform consistently across demographic groups. The test evaluated the Aware solution at a system level for both liveness and matching in realistic operating conditions, with outstanding results applicable to border control/eGates, national ID systems, financial services onboarding, mobile authentication and enterprise access control. The recent round of testing builds on the company’s top performance in the NIST Face Analysis Technology Evaluation (FATE) 2023 benchmarking test, as well as Aware’s consistent top tier performance in lack of bias in NIST FRTE 1-1 (see January 2026).

Bias in biometric systems can lead to uneven security outcomes and diminished trust, making independent testing essential. The evaluation confirmed that the Aware system performed consistently across all tested age, sex, and ethnicity groups at the evaluated operating configuration. These results provide strong assurance that the solution applies liveness and matching decisions fairly and reliably across diverse populations under the assessed conditions.

“Third-party validation and bias testing play an essential role in building ethical and trustworthy biometric systems,” said Ted Dunstone, CEO of BixeLab. “Independent assessments help the industry move toward technologies that are not only secure, but fair and transparent for the people who rely on them.”

Real-World Evaluation Through DHS RIVR Participation

Aware also participated in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2025 Remote Identity Validation Rally (RIVR), a government-led evaluation designed to assess remote identity verification technologies under realistic and sophisticated attack conditions.

Conducted in partnership with DHS Science and Technology Directorate, TSA, NIST, and other federal stakeholders, the RIVR evaluates how systems assess liveness from selfie images, match selfies to government-issued identity documents, and perform at scale across devices and environments. The program helps inform standards development and deployment decisions for both commercial and government use cases.

In the DHS 2025 RIVR Selfie-to-Document Match track, under the alias of MTDS1, Aware was one of only five vendors to meet all DHS-defined high performance goals. Among those top performers, Aware was one of only three to achieve zero failure-to-extract rates for both selfie and identity document images—indicating consistent, high-quality processing under real-world conditions. Of those three systems, Aware also demonstrated the lowest false match rate (FMR) across both random imposters and demographically similar imposters, highlighting its ability to maintain strong security even in more challenging, look-alike fraud scenarios. Together, these results underscore the Aware ability to deliver accurate, resilient identity verification at scale, aligned with the real-world risks DHS designed the RIVR to evaluate.

Strengthening Identity Assurance Beyond Passwords

In addition to biometric and liveness evaluations, Aware recently achieved FIDO2 Server Certification, validating its ability to securely support passkey-based authentication layered with biometric verification.

FIDO2 certification confirms compliance with FIDO Alliance standards for cryptographic authentication and interoperability—requirements increasingly expected in regulated and high-assurance environments such as payments and financial services. When combined with Intelligent Liveness, this approach helps ensure real user presence, mitigate phishing and automated attacks, and maintain fast, user-friendly identity flows.

To learn more about Aware Intelligent Liveness capabilities, visit the team at booth #502 at MRC Vegas, March 16-19 at the ARIA Resort & Casino.

About Aware

Aware, Inc. (NASDAQ: AWRE) is a proven global leader in biometric identity and authentication solutions. Its Awareness Platform transforms biometric data into actionable intelligence, empowering organizations to verify identities and prevent fraud with speed, accuracy, and confidence. Designed for mission-critical enterprise environments, the platform delivers intelligent, scalable architecture, real-time insights, and reliable security—ensuring precise identification when every millisecond matters. Aware is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts. To learn more, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Safe Harbor Warning

Portions of this release contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties, such as estimates or projections of future revenue, earnings and non-recurring charges, and the growth of the biometrics markets. Aware wishes to caution you that there are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by such statements.

Risk factors related to our business include, but are not limited to: i) we face intense competition from other biometrics solution providers; ii) our business is subject to rapid technological change; iii) our software products may have errors, defects or bugs which could harm our business; iv) our business may be adversely affected by our use of open source software; v) we rely on third party software to develop and provide our solutions and significant defects in third party software could harm our business; and vi) we may be sued by third parties for alleged infringement of their proprietary rights.

We refer you to the documents Aware files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the section titled Risk Factors in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and other reports and filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

This publication is based upon work conducted under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cooperative Research and Development Agreement No. DHS_25-TCBI-004

The views and/or conclusions contained in this document are those of the author(s) and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and do not constitute a DHS endorsement of the equipment tested or evaluated.

This information was determined based on demonstrations and assessments conducted at the Maryland Test Facility as part of the Remote Identity Validation Technology Rally held in 2025 under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement.

For more information on these results, please reach out directly to DHS or contact Aware.

CONTACT

Company Contact
Delaney Gembis
Aware, Inc.
781-687-0393
marketing@aware.com

FAQ

What did Aware (AWRE) report about ISO/IEC 30107-3 liveness testing on Feb 17, 2026?

Aware reported strong PAD performance with zero false rejections at Levels 1 and 2 and 100% user completion at Level 3. According to the company, testing showed zero successful attacks at Levels 2 and 3, indicating robust spoof detection against advanced presentation attacks.

How did Aware (AWRE) perform in demographic bias testing under ISO/IEC 19795-10?

Aware said its system performed consistently across tested age, sex, and ethnicity groups at the evaluated configuration. According to the company, the ISO/IEC 19795-10 results demonstrate fairness for border control, financial onboarding, and mobile authentication use cases.

What results did Aware (AWRE) achieve in the DHS 2025 RIVR Selfie-to-Document Match track?

Aware was one of five vendors to meet all DHS-defined high performance goals in the RIVR Selfie-to-Document Match track. According to the company, Aware was one of three with zero failure-to-extract and showed the lowest false match rate among top performers.

What does Aware's FIDO2 Server Certification mean for AWRE customers and security?

FIDO2 Server Certification confirms Aware supports passkey-based cryptographic authentication interoperable with FIDO standards. According to the company, combining FIDO2 with Intelligent Liveness helps mitigate phishing and automated attacks while preserving fast, user-friendly identity flows.

Will Aware (AWRE) demonstrate these technologies at industry events in March 2026?

Yes. Aware will exhibit Intelligent Liveness and related capabilities at MRC Vegas, March 16–19, 2026 at booth #502. According to the company, the booth will provide demonstrations and further information on evaluated performance and certifications.