Have you ever heard of finger print recognition technology used in laptop/computer’s log in process? Then, you may also wonder what is face recognition-based authentication mechanism. Actually, the concept of finger print, face recognition or voice recognition is the same, instead of key in the password, you can either use your finger or face to log in your computer.

Face recognition-based authentication mechanism is much faster than password key-in. It saves time and eradicates the need of memorizing your long and hard-to-remember password. KeyLemon 2.2 is one of the software which logs you in to your computer using your face. It’s providing a extra security to your laptop/computer instead of having just a password-protected system.

Image via http://download.cnet.com/KeyLemon/3000-2348_4-10973375.html

Once installed, the program will run you though creating your photo profile. KeyLemon 2.2 will check the webcam every 10 seconds by default. You may change this setting to the time you preferred in Control Center’s LemonScreen tab. If a hijacker tend to log in your computer, KeyLemon 2.2 will lock the computer after the photo of hijacker being taken by the program.

Image via http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-10450404-12.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Security

The latest version of KeyLemon include a firefox plug-in called Lemonfox that lets users log in to three social-networking services using their Webcam.

From the response of CNET blog reader, some of them pointed out the possibility of cheating the KeyLemon program by showing a printed-out photo of the computer’s owner. Computer can be easily hacked if the owner of computer has his/her Facebook profile picture exposed to public. A test is conducted by Dong Ngo, a CNET editor, that shows the vulnerability of face recognition-based authentication mechanism. A full report of the test can be obtained here.

Quang Tu Nguyen, BKIS’ director, said these face recognition vulnerabilities are very hard to fix without making the log-in process significantly less easy to use, which defeats the purpose of the technology. For now, he advised owners of these laptops to use the traditional username and password authentication method–or just don’t not to trust the computer with sensitive information.

Lots of improvement needed to make face recognition-based authentication mechanism a more secure method in log-in process. By the way, polite and educated computer/internet users are more needed than any security system used in computer. You know What I Mean, all Hacker?

If you want to try out KeyLemon 2.2, you may download from here.

Specification of KeyLemon 2.2:

• Publisher : KeyLemon
• Publisher web site : http://www.keylemon.com
• Release date : February 08, 2010
• Date added : February 09, 2010
• Operating systems : Windows Vista 64-bit, Windows 7 32-bit, Windows Vista 32-bit, Windows 7 64-bit, Windows XP
• File size : 26.59MB
• License model : Free to try
• Limitations : 30 logins with face recognition
• Price : $19.95