1. A method for generating a distorted fingerprint representation for a given fingerprint image, comprising the steps of: selecting at least one fingerprint feature point from the given fingerprint image; generating at least one representation of a region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point; using a distortion key to distort the representation of the region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point, wherein the distortion key defines a random projection that is applied to the representation to distort the representation to generate a randomly projected representation of the region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point; forming a distorted fingerprint template comprising the randomly projected representation of the region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point, wherein the distorted fingerprint template is non-invertable such that the given fingerprint image cannot be obtained using the distorted fingerprint template and the distortion key; and storing the distorted fingerprint template in association with the distortion key; wherein one or more of the steps of selecting, generating, distorting and forming are performed by a computer.