In conjunction with Intel, Lenovo has become the first PC company to release Windows PCs directly integrated with FIDO®-certified authenticators – thereby providing consumers with “simpler and safer online authentication”.
The FIDO Alliance – backed by organisations such as Samsung, Microsoft and Google – supports the elimination of passwords altogether. Thus far, Apple’s Touch ID isn’t compatible with FIDO.
Lenovo and Intel’s latest innovation has debuted the first implementation of FIDO standards directly into PCs.
Lenovo’s newest innovation will enable consumers to access a heightened online authentication process when logging into a range of popular websites such as PayPal®, Google™, Dropbox™ and Facebook™.
The integrated FIDO authenticators will support both a Universal Authentication Framework (UAF) and Universal 2nd Factor (U2F), and will utilise Intel Online Connect, which is available on the 7th and 8th Gen Intel Core™ processors.
Users won’t simply have to rely on passwords for online authentication but can log into websites with the touch of their finger via an integrated fingerprint reader (via UAF), or the “click of a real-time, on-screen button through U2F”.
Ultimately, the new integrated FIDO authenticators increase user protection and reduce fraud, as websites utilise security keys which are protected and rooted deeply in a PC’s hardware.
Intel Online Connect can be downloaded online, and will be made available through Lenovo System Update and Lenovo App Explorer, across all Lenovo laptops with 7th and 8th Gen Intel Core processors, which have enabled Intel SGX.3
The range of compatible Lenovo systems includes; Yoga 920 (not in Australia), IdeaPad 720S, ThinkPad X1 Tablet (2nd generation), ThinkPad X1 Carbon (5th generation), ThinkPad Yoga 370, ThinkPad T570, ThinkPad P51s, ThinkPad T470s, ThinkPad X270 and ThinkPad X270s.
Lenovo has informed ChannelNews that the update for its Yoga 920 device will first launch in China – rollout across Australia for the product will not be included during the initial introduction phase.
Johnson Jia, Senior Vice President of Lenovo’s PCs and Smart Devices Product Group states of the new innovation:
“People need hassle-free, built-in security that helps to protect them when logging into websites for banking, shopping and social media”
“Partnering with Intel to deliver FIDO-certified solutions, we’re addressing online security issues head-on by providing a simpler, safer online authentication experience and reducing our dependency on passwords alone”.
Brett McDowell, Executive Director of the FIDO Alliance, states of the partnership with Lenovo and Intel:
“I am thrilled to see the realisation of this partnership between FIDO Alliance board members Intel and Lenovo, which resulted in the PC industry’s first FIDO-enabled embedded fingerprint and now includes support for all FIDO protocols on several new leading PC models”
“Today’s news reinforces FIDO authentication as the de facto standard technology to move the world beyond passwords, across all internet-connected devices: PCs, mobile, and IoT”.
