Fujitsu on Monday launched a compact, palm-vein recognition device
for securing a laptop or desktop.
The PalmSecure LT single sign-on device is targeted at healthcare,
financial services, and government. The biometric technology is
meant as a replacement for passwords in providing authentication
for logging on to a PC.
The PalmSecure LT plugs into a computer's USB port and uses an
infrared light to scan a user's palm-vein pattern. The device
generates a unique biometric template that is matched against
pre-registered users' palm-vein patterns. Fujitsu claims the device
is highly reliable and generates extremely fast authentication.
The new product is a compact, less expensive version of Fujitsu's
PalmSecure model used in the healthcare industry for patient
registration and time and attendance systems, as well as for other
security applications. Fujitsu did not release pricing of the
PalmSecure LT.
Fujitsu's PalmSecure technology supports IBM's Tivoli Access
Manager for Enterprise Single Sign-On. The software eliminates the
need for multiple passwords in accessing corporate assets, such as
Web site, desktop, or network resources, while also enforcing
protection policies across an organization.
The use of passwords for accessing corporate systems can be a
headache for organizations, particularly if employees have to
remember multiple passwords. Security can be compromised when
people choose passwords that are too simple or share them with
other employees.
A study conducted by Unisys about a year ago showed that more than
70% of Americans were comfortable using biometric technology as an
alternative to passwords. Unisys specializes in integrating
biometric technologies.
However, biometric technology also has its own risks. Experts, for
example, have found that face-recognition software that provides
authentication on laptops sold by Asus, Lenovo, and Toshiba can be
bypassed if the attacker is able to capture a picture of the
user.