Microsoft's next-in-line operating system, Windows 10, will launch this summer with a new cool feature — a biometric scanner.
Aside from unveiling the planned release date of the company's newest operating system, Terry Myerson, the executive vice president of Windows, Microsoft Corp., also used the Windows Hardware Engineering CommunitySummit held March 18 in Shenzen China, as a venue to offer details on what features the new Windows 10 will come packaged with.
One of these features is Windows Hello, a biometric identification system for the newest Microsoft OS. At first glance, Windows Hello seems to be Microsoft's answer to Apple's Touch ID.
On how Windows Hello will be very different from other security apps that touches on user's biometric identities, Joe Belfiore wrote on Microsoft's official blog, "With Windows Hello, you'll be able to just show your face, or touch your finger, to new devices running Windows 10 and be immediately recognized. And not only is Windows Hello more convenient than typing a password — it's more secure!"
Microsoft plans to implement Windows Hello across all device platforms. At this point in time, though, Microsoft will only have the biometric security features of Windows Hello solely as software. For example, those who would have Windows 10 on their mobile devices will only have access to Windows Hello if their smartphones or tablets already employ a fingerprint reader feature. For more stringent security features, such as iris or facial detection, Windows Hello will only work on devices with already existing hardware scanner set-up.
Aside from Windows Hello, Microsoft will also introduce another security feature, the Windows 10 Passport. Details are sketchy at the moment, but Belfiore notes, "Instead of using a shared or shareable secret like a password, Windows 10 helps to securely authenticate to applications, websites and networks on your behalf - without sending up a password. Thus, there is no shared password stored on their servers for a hacker to potentially compromise."
