Tiny biometric scanners unlock your PC

By Erik Larkin

January 9, 2006 12:00 PM ET

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PC World - Swipe your thumb over a tiny bronze-colored stripe and -- voila -- your PC is unlocked.
If we ever do reach the point where we don't have to remember, or even use, the passwords that I at least am always forgetting, it will likely be because of biometric scanners like those made by Authentec. At CES, the company announced its new 1610 scanner, which is millimeters high and less wide than your thumb.
With a manufacturing cost of under $5, these little scanners are popping up in mice, PCMCIA cards, and many other peripherals. A few business laptops are getting them, and if you happen to be in Asia, a bunch of phones use them as well.
They're not perfect, as recent reports of biometric spoofing with Play-Doh attest. But I have to like anything that holds out the promise of reducing my password clutter.

Reprinted with permission from

For more PC news, visit PCWorld.com.
Story copyright 2009 PC World Communications. All rights reserved.

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