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: March 12, 2008 at 1:30AM  

    Still no 64-bit drivers... (though HP resells this same Digital Persona product as well, and has released 64bit drivers, so MS is just choosing not too... for their own branded product).

  2. Posted on: March 17, 2008 at 10:04AM  

    Just received my Microsoft Fingerprint Reader to secure my Vista Business x64. I did not believe that the Microsoft Fingerprint Reader is not supportet with the latest Microsoft OS, but that is how it is.

    I heard that there MIGHT be coming up 64bit drivers. But what everyone out there (including myself) needs is an *answer*. Will the Fingerprint Reader be supported *ever*? Yes or no, please.

  3. Posted on: March 20, 2008 at 5:47AM  

    There is hope! 64bit support is coming up-if you believe this official MS support reply statement:

    I have contacted the concerned department regarding information about the software. I have certain interesting facts to share with you.

    The development team has received numerous requests about a compatible version of Digital Persona software for XP and Vista 64 Bit edition of Windows. This operating system is getting increasingly popular and the request for compatible software is one of the top queries reaching the product department.

    Therefore, the product development team has started preliminary tasks in this regard. However, I am unable to obtain an estimated date for release for this software, since it is in the primitive stages and there is still lot of testing / development needs to be performed.

    [...]

    Regards,

    Mayur Makwana,

    Microsoft Product Support Services

    http://support.microsoft.com/hardware

  4. Posted on: April 20, 2008 at 6:10PM  

    I just installed my newly purchased Microsoft Fingerprint Reader. I downloaded the latest DigitalPersona 2.0 software from the Microsoft hardware-site. But it does not log into to my Windows Vista Ultimate. It works for logging into websites, but not for logging on to Vista. It just blinks when I out my finger on. What do I do wrong?

  5. Posted on: April 23, 2008 at 6:11AM  

    Thank you Myst for the info! I wonder, how I will get to know, when they release it.

    Best Regards,

    Alderik

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