Windows Hello
Technology is always looking for ways to make our lives easier, faster, and more secure. Microsoft has recently developed a unique feature that attempts to do all three for a task as simple as logging in to your computer. Both Microsoft's new Surface Book hybrid laptop and Surface Pro 4 productivity-oriented tablet now include a login feature called Windows Hello. Windows Hello is a a bio metric authentication feature that uses facial recognition to secure and speed up the login process.
The set up of Windows Hello is done much the same way as traditional fingerprint or iris recognition. First, the you must enable your account with a PIN login, and then you'll be prompted to register your bio metric data. This is the easy part. All you do is stare into your computer camera for a few seconds... and that's it. You're done. Your face is now saved onto your machine (and your machine only) and the recognition data is securely stored in such a way that no hacker or malicious applications could reasonably attain or infiltrate it.
When Hello is enabled, logging in to your account is as simple as sitting down in front of your computer screen. The lock screen will show a small eye icon looking around, but the facial recognition is practically instantaneous. In fact, recognition is so quick, a delay had to be built in. Without the delay, locking your screen after use would be pretty tricky. Once you signed out of your account, facial recognition would see your face and immediately reopen your applications. You'd have to sign out and duck (or something equally ridiculous). In addition, if Windows Hello immediately recognizes your face after you've signed out, you'll be asked to swipe the lock screen out of the way before preceding. Again, this feature is activated only if it recognizes your face within a few seconds after logging out in order to stop unwanted unlocking.
Hypothetical scenario: You're in your room. Your roommate is sleeping. You need to get into your computer, but you don't want to turn on the light and annoy your sleeping roommate. How could your computer possibly recognize your face in the dark?? Well, the sensors in the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 include an infrared camera and light that detect your bio metric features without lighting. Pretty cool!
Many concerns have come up regarding the security of Windows Hello. Can it be tricked by a simple photograph? What about an identical twin? Initially... maybe. However, an optional feature can be utilized to increase security. Instead of just looking at your face from a forward direction, you can include a left and right profile. After registering you face, Hello will require you to turn your head from left to right before it will unlock you user profile. This solves the photograph question... but you're on your own if you have an identical twin. If you're worried your twin is out to hack you, perhaps it would be best to stick with a good ole' password instead.
To all of you Surface owners, give Windows Hello a try!
The set up of Windows Hello is done much the same way as traditional fingerprint or iris recognition. First, the you must enable your account with a PIN login, and then you'll be prompted to register your bio metric data. This is the easy part. All you do is stare into your computer camera for a few seconds... and that's it. You're done. Your face is now saved onto your machine (and your machine only) and the recognition data is securely stored in such a way that no hacker or malicious applications could reasonably attain or infiltrate it.
When Hello is enabled, logging in to your account is as simple as sitting down in front of your computer screen. The lock screen will show a small eye icon looking around, but the facial recognition is practically instantaneous. In fact, recognition is so quick, a delay had to be built in. Without the delay, locking your screen after use would be pretty tricky. Once you signed out of your account, facial recognition would see your face and immediately reopen your applications. You'd have to sign out and duck (or something equally ridiculous). In addition, if Windows Hello immediately recognizes your face after you've signed out, you'll be asked to swipe the lock screen out of the way before preceding. Again, this feature is activated only if it recognizes your face within a few seconds after logging out in order to stop unwanted unlocking.
Hypothetical scenario: You're in your room. Your roommate is sleeping. You need to get into your computer, but you don't want to turn on the light and annoy your sleeping roommate. How could your computer possibly recognize your face in the dark?? Well, the sensors in the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 include an infrared camera and light that detect your bio metric features without lighting. Pretty cool!
Many concerns have come up regarding the security of Windows Hello. Can it be tricked by a simple photograph? What about an identical twin? Initially... maybe. However, an optional feature can be utilized to increase security. Instead of just looking at your face from a forward direction, you can include a left and right profile. After registering you face, Hello will require you to turn your head from left to right before it will unlock you user profile. This solves the photograph question... but you're on your own if you have an identical twin. If you're worried your twin is out to hack you, perhaps it would be best to stick with a good ole' password instead.
To all of you Surface owners, give Windows Hello a try!
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