Tech

It’s easy to put your finger on it

Think password-protected websites are a hassle? Then give them the finger. Microsoft’s Optical Desk top with Fingerprint Reader ($159) is one of the first consumer products to employ biometrics technology. Users program the scanner, which is embedded in the keyboard, to record a website’s login and password.

Subsequent visits only require a quick finger scan. Cool, but not perfect. The device only works with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer running on Windows XP. And Microsoft doesn’t recommend using it for financial sites-the gadget is more for conve nience than security. MICHAEL SNIDER

MICHAEL SNIDER

Microsoft’s Fingerprint Reader provides a quick way to access password-protected websites