Redmond develops new biometric system for Windows 10

Mar 17, 2015 19:17 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has just announced Windows Hello, a brand new biometric authentication system that’s supposed to replace passwords completely in Windows 10 and thus add a new layer of security to the upcoming operating system.

Windows Hello takes biometric authentication to the next level by allowing you to sign into your computer with your face, iris, or fingerprint, thus making sure that even if your passwords are hacked, nobody can take control of your data.

According to Microsoft, Windows Hello is in essence a system that employs both hardware and software to make Windows 10’s authentication system impossible to bypass by someone without access to a specific device.

“For facial or iris detection, Windows Hello uses a combination of special hardware and software to accurately verify it is you - not a picture of you or someone trying to impersonate you. The cameras use infrared technology to identify your face or iris and can recognize you in a variety of lighting conditions,” the company explains.

Smartphones to play key role

While Microsoft will be working with several organizations and companies to support Windows Hello and develop new devices that would make biometric authentication a common feature for the majority of users, the firm says that smartphones will also play a key role for this new system.

The software giant has also presented a new system called Passport, which is essentially a project that would rely on smartphones and wearables to provide an alternative authentication solution for Windows 10. Once again, regular passwords would no longer be used, and developers and OEMs would be allowed to make use of these systems and implement them in their own devices.

Basically, Passport will allow a device, such as a smartphone, to be used as an authentication device, so whenever you want to sign into Windows, the operating system will try to verify your identity using a PIN generated by a phone or other device with biometric sensors.

“We understand how critical it is to protect your biometric data from theft, and for this reason your ‘biometric signature’ is secured locally on the device and shared with no one but you. It is only used to unlock your device and ‘Passport,’ it is never used to authenticate you over the network,” Microsoft adds.

All these features are projected to debut in Windows 10, which in its turn is expect to see the light of day in the second half of this year.