Using fingerprints to log in to Windows Vista

I've been itching to demo this neat little gadget for a while now. A few months ago, I purchased the Microsoft Fingerprint Reader. The Microsoft Fingerprint Reader allows you to replace your standard Windows logon (Username and Password) with your fingerprint. And it works absolutely fantastic with Windows Vista. Anyway, I'll let the demo do the talking:


Video: Demo: Microsoft Fingerprint Reader on Windows Vista

You can quickly manage your credentials through the software that ships with the Microsoft Fingerprint Reader called DigitalPersona. If you hold your finger down on the fingerprint reader you will get a "One Touch Menu" pop up in the lower right-hand side of your screen giving you all the options you need to manage your credentials.

To manage your logons to various websites, you have a Password Manager that lets you edit the profiles for specific websites you use the fingerprint reader to login.

Using the DigitalPersona software, you are able to import and export data within your Password Manager to other PC's using Microsoft Fingerprint Readers. Security is a concern here in regards to importing and exporting of data so you are required to use your finger to verify you are you to export or import any data.

If you login in to quite a few websites, the Microsoft Fingerprint Reader is a great way to manage your logins "with the touch of a finger". Sorry, I couldn't resist ;-)

If you own a Microsoft Fingerprint Reader - you can download the Windows Vista drivers here. Just select "fingerprint reader" for your product.


Comments

  1. Posted on: August 01, 2007 at 1:45PM  

    Mislitel, I have DEP enabled and the DigitalPersona Fingerprint Software works just fine for me.

    I've not tried the Fingerprint Reader on Windows Live Mail or Windows Live Messenger simply because Windows Live Mail very seldom if ever requires me to enter a username or password after the initial configurations of my email accounts and Messenger "remembers" my login credentials so all I need to do is just press "sign-in". I am not in front of my PC with the Fingerprint Reader at the moment but once I get back I will check out how well it works with other apps.

    - Brandon

  2. Posted on: August 01, 2007 at 5:06PM  

    I am so very new to laptopcyberspace and windows vista that all of your comments I only half understand; however, my big question is, "is it expensive?"  pinkydo

  3. Posted on: August 02, 2007 at 11:30AM  

    Would have like to have seen you actually setup the login process and a webpage login to see what is actually involved.

    I assume all information is stored encrypted instead of plain text in the system?

  4. Posted on: August 02, 2007 at 7:42PM  

    Xepol, would you (and anyone else feel free to chime in) find value in me doing a follow-up video showing the login setup process and a few more things?

    - Brandon

  5. Posted on: August 03, 2007 at 1:01PM  

    So this is pretty worthless if you have a domain setup then?

  6. Posted on: August 04, 2007 at 3:34AM  

    Some answers from what i know already to questions posted from reading MOST RECENTLY DATED articles & reviews. Yes it is encrypted now, originaly no. Even though they are encrypted MS defines this product as a conveince tool. Id does not add extra security to your system. It is for when you dont want others to see you login, memory, X logins per day, general conveinence ect. For extra security (bla bla bla) virus scan (bla bla bla) securtity software (bla bla bla) firewall. Its 14 - 20 bux on ebay as well as other sites. Its been out for a while now, They do still support it (point of the article), Three versions: white silver and one acually built into the left side MS keyboard (and a black one? saw picture while browsing but did not find PHYSICAL "buyable" black one).  It works with (almost) EVERY internet login page on a site in ie because it knows where the pass and name and required feilds are. It does not currently support domain logins (but maybe it will be considered now warren, that would be nice actually. Though u know as well as i do it coudlnt possibly support every type of domain login seeing as how they are designed diffrently for the verry reason they exist, security. Could plugins or addon apps be codded for other domain login types?~ im judging from the 3 or 4 out now maybe to yes. Maybe theres a larger reason why they didnt, thats another big discussion but yeah id like that too. Data Exicution prevention problem was identified and fixed by microsoft a while back and was part of a larger problem. I did see an article about it it was dated 2005. Yes there is no vista 64 driver (currently) I checked the website ^___^ I hope they fix that soon too. I have a 64 chip but avoided 64, sux cause i wanted it but you know why DRIVERS so i got 32. It works with other browsers yes but they are user coded apps to add support and to my suprise are widely used by fire fox and opera users and more. I hope that aswers some questions that i too had. I did order it since i had 15 bux (ebay) and log into 20 or so sites a day. I would love to see Toms wish come true (domains) since i use about 2 - 3 of those a day too. Though from the way he talks im sure its alot more ;) (it comes next week sometime im not a review writer but ill post somthing if the mood strike me)

  7. Posted on: August 09, 2007 at 6:26PM  

    This is pretty cool, There are a few other Fingerprint readers out there worth looking at...

    It would be cool to have one of those on a laptop which some of the new ones have...

  8. Posted on: August 30, 2007 at 10:33AM  

    I NEED VISTA 64-bit drivers how do i get it?? on http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/Download.mspx

    i can only find a 32-bit  

  9. Posted on: September 06, 2007 at 8:28PM  

    Cannot watch the video. Soapbox DO NOT support many country. Better using Youtube next time!

  10. Posted on: December 02, 2007 at 3:18PM  

    Question on the MS Fingerprint reader: can you use two different people prints to access the same logon screen? Example: the wife and I both being able to logon to our finance screen.

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