Fingerprint reader: Security potential for online purchases

Pay By Touch Online may be the new solution to prevent phishing. ( EnGadget ) Many Internet users do not want to transact online because of fear of being stolen account information. Therefore, San Francisco-based Pay By Touch decided to develop a new system to please online shoppers.

Pay By Touch Online service combines biometric hardware with the user's fingerprint to identify the object of the transaction. The company hopes these fingerprint scanning devices will become popular in 2006 and customers will accept them as the only online shopping medium. However, this depends on whether consumers will pay an extra amount for hardware support.

Observers believe this is an interesting and promising idea. Fingerprint technology will make cybercriminals take more complicated steps if they want to steal accounts successfully. Spending money on hardware will make some people turn away from e-commerce, but those who have been victims of online fraud will find Pay By Touch Online a desirable system.