Lenovo has got together with a trio of other tech companies to bring fingerprint authentication based on FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) standards to its laptops such as the Yoga convertible range.
As mentioned, the PC vendor is teaming up with three other firms: Synaptics for its Natural ID fingerprint sensor, Intel due to the integrated security features of its latest Kaby Lake CPUs, along with PayPal and its ‘unique’ authentication systems.
The upshot being that you’ll be able to authenticate PayPal purchases, or any other online FIDO-enabled services, with a simple fingerprint rather than having to bother with entering (or indeed remembering) passwords. If you have a Lenovo laptop with the requisite hardware, that is, with the first device set to benefit from this innovation being the Yoga 910.
Safety first, second and third…
The collaborating tech firms stress the high level of security that this new system brings, with three layers of protection to guard against any possible compromise – the Natural ID sensor itself, Intel’s built-in hardware security, along with the FIDO-compliant authentication. The user’s fingerprint details and FIDO credentials never leave the laptop, and are stored in hardware and encrypted on the machine.
Brett McDowell, executive director of FIDO, commented: “Passwords are a universal problem that is not limited to mobile devices. Every internet connected device needs the ability to upgrade to simpler, stronger FIDO authentication and thanks to this partnership, the desktop ecosystem is on an accelerated path to get the same FIDO capabilities already well-established across the mobile ecosystem.”
Lenovo’s Yoga machines are a well-regarded range of convertibles, although last week they were the source of some controversy with the company being accused of ‘locking’ the hybrids to Windows 10 due to some manner of agreement with Microsoft – allegations that the PC manufacturer strongly denied.
Source: techradar.com
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Lenovo's Yoga PCs are a complete disgrace. IBM never would have locked Linux out of their Thinkpad lineup they way that Lenovo conspired with Microsoft to do with their laptops. Lenovo has developed a reputation for themselves as the company of Superfish and the BIOS that reinstalled crapware over and over. Their stock is down 2/3rds from last year. You'd have about 35 cents left for every dollar you invested in it. People are onto them. Microsoft has dug into Lenovo like a predatory wasp taking over an ant and forcing it back to the nest to lay its eggs.
Don't buy Lenovo products. They need to be boycotted.
The same Lenovo that adds malware to your fresh, brand new laptop. No Thanks.