Silex Fingerprint Scanner Review - Setting it up
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The set up for this was pretty straightforward, or at least it is supposed to be. The first step in the process is to install the SX Biometrics Suite from the CD. By inserting the CD into your drive, the installation sequence begins and installs the drivers and software that make the scanner function.
But here is where I hit a snag. We have a wireless network here in our office, and our wireless network cards actually modify the Windows login process, so the wireless cards can authenticate to the network. The SX-Biometrics installation recognizes this, and refuses to install unless you revert the Windows login back to its original functionality. Why does it require this? Because it wants to replace the Windows login routines, too. And if you already replaced them, it wants to take its ball and go home.
After a quick Google search, I found out how to set the Windows login back to how it needed to be, I was able to install the software. Part way through the install, it asks for the fingerprint scanner to be plugged in and then finishes up.
Once the software is installed, you must enroll new fingerprints, and tie them to a user account. The user name and password entry were simple. The fun part came when I was presented with the Data Enrollment screen.
From this screen, you click on the finger you would like to enroll. You are then taken to another screen, where you are to put your finger on the sensor, like this:
Once your fingerprint is analyzed, you once again remove your finger, then replace it again. This dual checking helps prevent invalid fingerprints saved on file. If the second scanning results in a match to the first scan, it can be saved and then another finger scanned. Here’s the results of a good verification scan.
You can enroll multiple fingers. The set up actually suggests more than one. I can assume this is in case you injure a finger, or for some other reason it won't match. With more than one enrolled, you have a better chance of actual authentication.
Now that you have enrolled your finger(s), it's time to reboot. This is so the new Windows logon sequence runs, and you actually use your finger to authenticate, rather than a user name and password. As a matter of fact, the user name and password option is no longer available; you are now actually required to authenticate via fingerprint only. In addition, the screen saver also requires your fingerprint to unlock the machine.
Now, I did a bunch of testing with my fingers and the fingers of coworkers. Only the fingers I registered would authenticate. They also authenticated every single time. There were no learning curves, deciding exactly where you had to hold your finger to be successful like some other fingerprint scanners require. I would say to date, I’ve successfully scanned my own finger well over 100 times. It's fast and simple.
One last piece of software to touch on is the SX-Pass. This allows you to save a username and password for a program or a web page, and basically have the SC-Pass auto-populate them for you.
I did a bunch of testing on this functionality, and have decided that it works really well for programs and for some websites (ones that pop open the Windows user/password box). But for custom websites (which comprise about 95% of my passwords), it just doesn’t seem to cut the mustard. I had my browser doing all sorts of funky things, and entering in the proper username and password was not one of them.
Next: Final thoughts >>
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