We have written many times about why passwords are bad and what is being done to replace them. While the chances of a technology emerging on wider-scale to completely replace passwords is still in long-term, The new myIDkey by Arkami purposes a short term solution in form of a biometric Bluetooth flash drive.
The myIDkey is not a new device as it has appeared in shows like CES before but this time it is seeking public funding in order to finally get into the market. The device is voice-activated and features fingerprint secure Bluetooth enabled USB Drive that displays the personal info such as passwords online while the user is on the go. The device helps in remembering passwords and is essentially helpful for people who have accounts on multiple online services (in my case hundreds).
The myIDkey can be unlocked as well as protected with a swipe of a finger as it has a built in fingerprint scanner than is capable of scanning your finger or thumb. It can be used as a password manager as well as valuable information such as bank account details etc. This small USB drive aims to put all of your personal information on your finger tips. It features voice-search and secure Bluetooth/USB connection. It also has a screen to display passwords and ID when you don’t have a computer in front of you.
With its Voice-Search feature users can easily find any info they are looking for. Users can set up names for particular information and just say the name to reveal them.
Using Bluetooth users can wirelessly sync myIDkey with their iPhone, iPad, or any Android device and create an extra layer of protection for their personal data.
So if this device carries all of your private data, what happens when you lose it you might wonder. Well the myIDkey has a ‘self-destruct’ feature that erases all the data stored in it after a number of failed attempts to unlock it. Also if you lose it you won’t lose your data as it will be backed up online and or locally on your PC.
With worked being done to eliminate passwords once and for all myIDkey is a great solution for remembering important and confidential information in the meantime.
If you want one for yourself then pledge to the project. You can get a myIDkey by pledging $79 or more to the project. It has already raised around $60,000 of its $150,000 goal. Learn more about it and pledge for the project here.