IBM Adds Fingerprint Security To ThinkPads
By Gregg Keizer , TechWeb Technology News
IBM on Monday unveiled its first ThinkPad notebook that includes a built-in fingerprint reader, an attempt, said the Armonk, N.Y.-based computer maker, to bring biometric-based security to mainstream users.
The reader, which is located on the wrist rest section of selected models of the T42 ThinkPad, is a ""slide"" style sensor, said Bill Iori, the manager for the Tseries segment. Unlike ""picture""-style readers, Iori said, the one in the T42 takes up less space and provides better scanning accuracy.
""We've had requests from customers to integrate some sort of biometric security solution,"" said Iori, ""but it's only with this technology that it really became feasible and economical.""
Users swipe a fingertip across the horizontally-oriented sensor, which is located below the arrow key layout. The reader is about the same width as one of those keys, and about half as deep.
""One swipe of your finger gives access to all of your passwords, including Windows' log-on and those needed to access Web sites, both intranet and Internet,"" said Iori.
The reader ties in with IBM's on-board security chip, dubbed Embedded Security Subsystem, and uses the new version of the Client Security Software, v. 5.4, that lets both administrators and end users link passwords and pass-phrases with the fingerprint reader.
Dozens of passwords can be connected to the reader via the software manager, said Iori. ""Put your finger on the sensor and it provides the power-on password, the hard drive password, and the Windows log-on password,"" he said. ""That's three passwords you don't have to remember or type.""
The usernames and passwords are encrypted by the in-system security chip.
Administrators can use the manager to establish policies and set passwords on multiple clients, said Iori, taking the responsibility of changing passwords, for instance, out of the hands of end users.
""Most enterprises have very strict password requirements, with so many characters, including both alpha and numeric characters, that users have a hard time remembering the combinations,"" Iori added. ""Biometrics is great for IT because it eliminates a lot of the time spent fielding calls to reset passwords from users who have forgotten them.""
Until costs came down to a reasonable level, said Iori, adding a fingerprint reader was a waste of time: too few customers would spring for it. Now, however, with the add-on price of the reader at about $50, it's within the mainstream's range.
""No question, costs had to come down, and have to continue to come down,"" said Iori, ""for biometric security solutions to get traction.""
The reader is from ST Micro's TouchChip line, which is available as an option in other vendors' laptops, including some from Gateway.
Iori boasted of the reader's low rate of false rejections -- when the right person swipes a finger across the sensor but is rejected and must re-swipe -- and false accepts, when a wrong fingerprint mistakenly gives someone access to the ThinkPad.
""Typically, fingerprint readers give a false rejection rate of three percent, less than one percent of false accepts,"" said Iori. ""The ST Micro sensor is significantly below those numbers.""
Fingerprint sensor-equipped ThinkPad T42s will be available October 19, said IBM, at prices starting at $1,699.
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