New York based company Hoyos Group has unveiled the world's first eye scanning device available on the mass market. Using iris recognition technology, EyeLock enables greater computer and internet security by scanning the user’s eye.

At the Finovate conference in San Francisco, Hoyos unveiled its truly unique device. No larger than a standard business card, the device only weighs four ounces and comes in the form of a USB drive. Once the computer software is installed, the user can decide which applications are protected by EyeLock. Once secured, the user holds the scanner in front of their eye, the device recognises the individual and access is granted to any password protected site. Logging into Facebook, Twitter or more secure websites like PayPal has never been so easy or secure.

Tracy Hoyos, Assistant Marketing Director said: “Every time you log in, it reads your iris and creates a unique key, which is a series of numbers, and this key changes every time you log in, so no one can hack it.”

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Iris recognition eliminates the risk of theft and identity fraud which are prevalent online while making access to personal information a lot more secure. Although the US government and other financial institutions have tried to implement this technology previously, Hoyos claims it is the first company to fully develop iris recognition for consumer use.

No release date has been announced yet, but the EyeLock will cost $99 (£60) to buy. While this technology may not be adopted by the mainstream at first, Hoyos is confident that EyeLock will be seen as the most secure way to browse the internet in the future.

“Change is always a shock for people, and there is always going to be some resistance, but once they see all that it can do and how easily it will protect their identities, their money and their families, I think it will catch on," said Hoyos.