Instead of a long-winded password, the technology allows you to verify your identity with a fingerprint or selfie. You simply download the app and take a photo so the service can create a digitized map of your face. It's then stored on Mastercard's servers and used as a reference point whenever you want to complete a new purchase online. It's possible, of course, that someone could simply print a photo of your face -- to get around the problem, the app will ask you to blink before confirming each transaction.

Mastercard says the new system will "dramatically" speed up the checkout process online, "while also improving security." Even if the latter is true (it's probably not) you'll have to decide whether it's worth the resulting embarrassment. Like Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 and Microsoft's Lumia 950, I think I'll choose a fingerprint over a cumbersome retina scan for now.