Which characteristic is NOT a component of biometric authentication?

Biometric authentication is primarily based on the unique physical or behavioral traits of individuals. The characteristics associated with biometric authentication include "what you are" (physical traits like fingerprints or facial recognition) and "what you do" (behavioral characteristics like typing patterns or voice recognition).

The correct answer indicates a characteristic that does not fit into the biometric authentication framework. "What you know," which pertains to knowledge-based authentication such as passwords or PINs, is not part of biometrics. Biometric systems specifically rely on measurable physical characteristics or behavioral patterns, distinguishing them from traditional methods like passwords or security questions, which rely on knowledge that a user possesses.

Thus, identifying "what you know" as not being a component of biometric authentication appropriately highlights the focus of biometric systems on inherent personal characteristics rather than memorized information.