The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Fingerprint reader - will it work for web logon?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by robs10, Jan 17, 2009.

  1. robs10

    robs10 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    311
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I get different answers from Dell as to what a fingerprint reader can do. Some say it's only for logging onto Windows and won't replace typing in passwords for websites, others say it will work for that. I even saw someone doing that in a Youtube video (logging on to a website). What's the truth?
     
  2. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    157
    Messages:
    2,020
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    56
    It works for logging on to websites, including this one. But I have Sony SZ but I assume the software is similar. You have UPEK, right?
     
  3. robs10

    robs10 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    311
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I'm ordering a new laptop from Dell's Outlet and didn't know if the FR was worth including, since it's not on too many listed configs. If I can forget about the multitude of passwords I have to keep track of for all the sites I use, it's worth it!
     
  4. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Logging in on Websites with the fingerprint reader depends on the layout of the website.

    Unless the software can recognize the inoput fields as such it won't work.

    Generally - if you can save the password in your browser it'll work with the fingerprint reader too.
    But: The fingerprint reader will not work with every Browser - for me it only runs with IE7.
    FF3 and Opera 9.6x are a no go.

    Otherwise:
    You can log on, and you can encrypt data using your fingerprint.

    Edit:
    Technically, BIOS protection and "turning laptop on" protection with fingerprint should be possible too, but I haven't tried it.
     
  5. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    224
    Messages:
    1,287
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Mine works with Firefox 3.
     
  6. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Possibly software version & updates.

    I've got the Upek Protecto Suite 5.6.2

    I think someone postet a link to 5.8.2 somewhere... but it works and I don'T want to jeopardize it...

    There was an update for 5.6.2 from Upek o allow FF3 to work - but it didn't work for me...
     
  7. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    224
    Messages:
    1,287
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Mine is 5.8.2. I'm not sure if I had to do anything else to get it to work.
     
  8. sipp11

    sipp11 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    131
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If you have UPEK, then use 'Protector Suite QL' 5.6 or 5.8.2. I should work with FF3, ie7, or ie8 without any problem.

    I don't think we have to do anything but enroll fingerprint at least 1. Protector Suite QL will have a pop-up on every pages which have user/password fields for you to follow.
     
  9. robs10

    robs10 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    311
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Thanks for the info! Sounds like it will work in most instances (?) Guess I'll include it in my configuration priorities.
     
  10. Vaio4Life

    Vaio4Life Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    127
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    "I don't think we have to do anything but enroll fingerprint at least 1"

    This is true but enroll more than one finger, if you injur your finger you might run into problems.
     
  11. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    And set a password to bypass fingerprints.

    This is very handy if you encrypt files.

    If you encrypt files with your fingerprint only, format your laptop, recover everything, resave your fingerprint, you will not be able to open the encrypted archive.
    (I don't now about password - but that should work)