Microsoft embracing two-factor authentication in Longhorn

Password are only as secure as you make them. In the case of many users, that's not very comforting. Whether it's due to keyloggers, Post-It Notes, or pet names, passwords can be easily compromised and used to wreak havoc.

At CeBIT, Microsoft let on that it was planning on supporting two-factor authentication in Longhorn and other future versions of Windows. For those unfamiliar with the technology, two-factor authentication basically requires two means of confirming the identity of a user. The process is somewhat akin to using an ATM to access your checking account: you need both the ATM card and PIN in order to withdraw money. With a PC, a combination of a password and fingerprint reader could be used to verify the identity of the person attempting to log in.