How to Use Biometrics
Photo: Biometric Technology
You can install security software that utilizes biometric technology to authenticate you and prevent unauthorized persons from viewing your data. Unlike a password-only system, which crackers can sometimes defeat, a biometric system requires unique biological identification (usually a fingerprint) to authenticate a user.
Biometric software combined with a hardware device, usually a fingerprint scanner, authenticates users who attempt to log on to the computer. Your fingerprint is stored as a unique encrypted digital signature that, in theory, crackers can't forge. To log on to the laptop you must have a password, and the scanner checks your fingerprint and compares it against the print on file. If the prints match, you are authenticated and can access the data.
Biometrics offers another way to secure sensitive data. Fingerprint scanners are available as an option for computers and PDAs. You will start to see this technology in more places in the next few years, as credit card companies and even grocery stores test the technology as a means of identification. Perhaps soon you won't even have to carry your credit card; you'll just provide your fingerat the register.
There are relatively inexpensive fingerprint scanners available as add-ons for computers and PDAs. Often these devices connect to your computer with a USB or serial port connection. Some are even built into PCMCIA cards for laptops. Even some computer mice have built-in fingerprint readers. These devices cost $70 to $300 and are available through all major computer hardware retailers.
Its amazing how fast technology is progressing. Sarnoff.com actually provides technology that is “capturing an iris image at a distance while the subject is in motion.”
[..] A little unrelated, but I really liked this blog post [..]