Forget passwords??? Your palm could be key to security....

Passwords could become a thing of the past if new technology from Intel makes its way to laptops and mobile devices

The traditional security method, even when linked to different verification methods, remains an exploit that cybercriminals can pursue. Connectivity online often means that users will keep to the same password, or similar variants -- and once one account is breached, that information can be used to tap into financial information, online payment systems, or sensitive work documents.

But if Intel's prototype "Client-Based Authentication Technology" is successful, biometrics may be the latest defense against cyberattacks.

Intel researcher Sridhar Iyendar demonstrated the technology at Intel's Developer Forum this week. Waving a hand in front of a "palm vein" detector on a computer, one of Iyendar's assistants was logged into Windows 7, was able to view his bank account, and then once he moved away the computer locked Windows and went into sleeping mode.

The biometric sensors used on the laptop detect the unique vein patterns on a palm, which is of course far more difficult to forge than a password made up of "12345" or "qwerty", Lyendar said:

"The problem with passwords -- we use too many of them, their rules are complex, and they differ for different websites. There is a way out of it, and biometrics is an option."

The researcher said that once the device has recognized a user, that identity tag can be forwarded to any number of accounts securely; from banks to social networks, e-mail or business networks. This would mean individual websites would no longer need to support password networks if the tech becomes widespread.