Fingerprint checks for online payments

A US project to make biometric checks part of online purchasing could lead to safer shopping

Pay By Touch, a vendor of biometric devices for payment authentication, has launched an online version of its fingerprint reading service. The firm described the service as convenient and simple to use and added that it gives “consumers a fast, easy and secure way to identify themselves and make purchases on the internet”.

Pay By Touch already offers its fingerprint readers in physical stores, most frequently in the US, but it has a few UK customers including the Co-op.

For the online version, as in the high street, users put their finger on a Pay By Touch scanner for verification, then they are asked to input a PIN number. Then they can choose their preferred method of payment, and the transaction is complete. However, there is a need for an external device, the fingerprint reader - which could be a barrier to adoption – and web sites must sign up with Pay By Touch to participate.

Pay By Touch said that the system removes of the need to input a user name and password and so saves time for users and limits their exposure to theft from spyware, or other malicious programs.

The firm added that the system means users do not need to carry cards or other information that might be attractive to thieves, and all data is encrypted and stored at secure IBM datacentres. In fact no sensitive information is transmitted from the user's computer. Once a payment method is chosen, Pay By Touch communicates the user's financial information to the merchant.

The firm said that it planned to fully roll out its service by spring this year.