Visa Is Experimenting With Biometric Payment Systems

Apple's iPhone 5S has a fingerprint scanner, and now Samsung's revealed a print-reading Galaxy S5. Each allows for payments to be verified using a swipe of your digits. Is this the possible future of all transactions? Perhaps, and Visa is now exploring the area too to ensure it will be ready for the possible… » 2/25/14 6:30am 2/25/14 6:30am

Windows 7 Networking and Security: HomeGroup, User Account Controls and…

For the average person, networking and security are two of the biggest causes of OS-related headaches, with so many settings, devices, alerts and threats to stay on top of. With Windows 7, Microsoft attempts a more useful approach to family networking with HomeGroup. It expands its security options, too, but does it… » 2/10/09 11:55am 2/10/09 11:55am

Biometric Social Security Cards Proposed to Combat ID Theft

Two Illinois congressmen are introducing legislation with the goal of upgrading that flimsy paper piece of crap we call a social security card to include a photo, fingerprint and computer ID chip. Recent data shows that nearly $45 billion is lost each year due to identity theft, which makes it increasingly necessary… » 2/13/08 4:50pm 2/13/08 4:50pm

Biometric Fingerprint Safe is NRA Endorsed, Futuristic

This Sequiam Biometrics BioVault 2.0 is officially endorsed by the NRA as a biometric gun-safety device, meaning it's safe enough that an organization that specializes in guns believes it can prevent your kids from getting at your guns. And not only is it safe, it's convenient too. How many times have you heard an… » 12/26/07 6:20pm 12/26/07 6:20pm

FBI's $1 Billion Biometric Database Will Help Catch the Bad Guys

The FBI is planning to spend $1 billion on the world's largest biometric database. The database will be used to create a big brother state, in which you will ultimately have little autonomy assist the FBI's efforts in catching the bad guys. Apparently, compilation of digital images, including mug shots, fingerprints… » 12/23/07 12:20am 12/23/07 12:20am

Pay by Touch System Tested by Gas Stations, Grocery Store

Here's a better way to pay for stuff. By just touching your fingertip to this Pay by Touch biometric system, you can pay for anything in the ten Chicago Shell stations that are now testing the tech. So this means there's no need to reach for that credit card or even your wallet; all you have to do is touch a certain… » 11/01/07 8:48am 11/01/07 8:48am

Fujitsu Launch Palm-Vein Scanning Mouse, Finally

This press release from 2002 shows a Fujitsu mouse that could authenticate logins by scanning vein-patterns in a user's hand. By taking an infrared scan of a person's hand, the system can get a clear picture of their veins - the pattern is then used to authenticate users. Five years later, they have finally launched… » 9/11/07 5:42am 9/11/07 5:42am

Oki Japan Bring Iris Scanning to Existing Cellphones

Oki Japan has developed software that brings iris recognition security to existing cellphones. Before now, biometric security has meant either hugely expensive military systems or cheap, novelty peripherals. This new development is part of a growing number of practical and affordable solutions. The software can be… » 7/27/07 6:09am 7/27/07 6:09am

Pen-One Fingerprint Pen Steals Your Identity

What's the point of a pen that can take your signature when you sign? Imagine your credit card being stolen, but if the person who's signing gets their fingerprint taken when they sign, you'll have a record of who the thief was. A stupid example for sure, but there are other, more important uses for the device. Some… » 12/12/06 1:42pm 12/12/06 1:42pm

Sequiam BioLock Forces Burglars to Break Your Window Instead

Yeah, this lock has a fingerprint-reading scanner tucked underneath, but we're not sold on the idea that it'd deter a burglar from breaking into someone's apartment. Nevertheless, the $249 lock can register up to 50 different digits and can be used on pretty much any door. It also comes with two back up keys. We'll… » 10/18/06 1:28pm 10/18/06 1:28pm