The SecuGen Mouse takes a different approach to providing fingerprint biometric logon facilities, in that it combines a good-quality optical fingerprint reader with an equally good-quality optical mouse.
This makes for particularly intuitive operation as, for right-handed users, the thumb falls naturally over the optical sensor. Left-handed users can also easily use the device with their second or third fingers placed fairly easily over the sensor.
The SecuGen Mouse connects via a single, good-quality USB lead for all functions. As an optical mouse, it is comfortable, incorporates a scroll wheel and will suit even those with quite large hands.
Manufactured in Korea, it seems to be very well made and robust enough to withstand the rigors of a busy office life. The optical fingerprint sensor also works very well, and accommodates minor variation of finger placement without any difficulty.
The SecuGen products have been designed to work with the SNAP (Secure Network Authentication Platform) software which enables workstation or network use with variations of template location, managed through a straightforward utility that allows easy updating of user accounts to incorporate a biometric.
As a result, installation is a two-stage process of installing the necessary device drivers and then the SNAP software, which is supplied on a separate CD. However, this was not immediately obvious from the flimsy, single A5 size installation guide and SecuGen would do well to provide a rather more comprehensive manual.
The SNAP utility has a clear and adequate help file, however, and once the concept is understood, system administrators should have little difficulty in setting things up.
In operation, the SecuGen Mouse worked very well indeed. With the thumb falling naturally over the sensor, login was a breeze and subjectively very fast.
We think that most users would quickly become familiar with using this device, the operation becoming second nature to them. From a casual onlooker's perspective, it is not obvious that a biometric is being used at all, and some may see this as an additional security factor.
