Review on 🔒 AUTHENTREND ATKey.Card Fingerprint Reader, USB Security Key/Smart Card with NFC, BLE, USB-A, FIDO Authentication, Safe Login, Biometric Badge for Microsoft Azure AD Support by Josh Koa

I wanted to love the Authentrend ATKey.Card and was very excited when I found it and read what it was supposed to do. The problem is that it's not really fast or reliable. In fact, trying to use this thing was so frustrating that I had to send it back before giving in to my urge to break it in half and set it on fire. If you buy this device, prepare to play with it and try to figure out how it works by experimenting, as the instructions are not easy to understand and just don't explain everything about the card. I have a degree in computers and security, so I finally figured out how it works, but I know it just means a lot of people never will. So after much fiddling and tinkering I came to the conclusion that this is a great idea, just very poorly executed. First of all, I was very disappointed to learn that Windows Hello doesn't work without downloading and installing software that runs as a service and takes up system resources. If you can live with that, you still won't like how slow it is to log into Windows. I'll tell you how the process works. The card must be switched on! That's right, you have to press the power button as it will automatically turn off after 1 minute even when connected to a USB power source. It stays powered on when plugged into a computer's USB port, but it's far from slick, and the USB port is one of those super-thin, half-size plugs that save space. If you're using USB, you can also buy fingerprint scanners for $23, which are much faster, always-on, and don't require software. For me, Bluetooth was EVERYTHING attractive. I liked the idea of using just my fingerprint to log into Windows over Bluetooth because I could have it where I sat and not on my computer, wirelessly. It's really really bad, it takes so long for the $25 USB fingerprint reader to be ready before Windows finishes loading the login screen and logs you in the moment your finger touches the sensor (unless he's dirty or something). It's almost as if this card is primarily intended for people who often go through the doors of NFC, as Bluetooth certainly seems to take a backseat to the cards' attempts to use NFC first anyway. I don't know how many times I've turned on the card and Bluetooth wouldn't connect until it started looking for NFC devices for the first time. It could be a problem with the software you need to install, or it could be a problem with Windows. Then again, it could be a design flaw, or who knows, maybe it was even designed that way on purpose. So if all goes well, you'll be able to log into Windows with your welcome fingerprint, maybe 1 minute after the card is powered on. Better hope it doesn't crash though, 2 failed fingerprints and the device should reconnect to bluetooth and may not, and then you have to hold down the power button to force it to turn off. So yes, all too often it takes longer to log in than if you just entered your password or PIN. Not cool. NFC is fast, as soon as you turn on the card, you can touch it with your fingerprint immediately to turn on the door key mode. I didn't have the door to test this so I can't talk to it, but it should work pretty quickly. So unless you have excessive patience and laziness, don't buy this. Or, if you use a lot of NFC doors and stuff, you might get it, but I can't imagine there isn't a better solution. To log into Windows, just get a cheap USB fingerprint reader. Have separate security key for online accounts and NFC card for doors. Trying to bring them all together looks great on paper, but I haven't found a company that really gets it right yet.