McAfee Launches Biometric Protection Suite

McAfee pulled the curtain back on a new biometric protection suite on Tuesday, promising uniform data protection across multiple platforms, including Mac OS X, iOS, Windows, and Android.

Dubbed LiveSafe, the solution is McAfee’s answer to the growing use of desktops and mobile devices to connect to the world, and the data that goes along with that use. According to the company, nearly 90 percent of consumers around the world report owning more than one digital device, and more than 60 percent have three or more devices.

“Our digital lives have become more complex as we connect, share, and store data though multiple devices,” said Mike DeCesare, president of McAfee.

The LiveSafe suite was built on Intel’s Anti-Theft and Identity Protection technology; meaning that customers will see the damage mitigated should the device be stolen or lost. Likewise, the Identity Protection side of the suite will also include tamper-resistant hardware authentication mechanisms, which is the main sticking point.

Using the hardware authentication mechanisms, customers who store sensitive data (business or personal) in their cloud-based digital locker, can access it through facial and voice recognition.

Using the laptop’s camera and mic, the customer will take a picture and say a pre-defined phrase as a means of authentication, which protects the data in the locker should the device be lost, stolen, or compromised remotely.

Mobile users get an additional layer. In addition to the need for them to take a picture, and read a series of sentences, a PIN will also be required to access the locker from a mobile platform such as iOS or Android.

Biometric authentication and hardware protection aside, LiveSafe also includes subscriptions that cover anti-malware protection for desktops and mobile devices; password management; anti-Phishing and Spam; and access to live support for application or security questions.

LiveSafe launches this summer. The cost is normally $79.99 for a 12-month subscription, but will be lowered to $19.99 for a short time with the purchase of a new laptop or PC. Starting June 9, Ultrabook devices sold by Dell will have the suite pre-installed. Additional details can be found here.