A portable or embedded access device is provided for being coupled to, and for allowing only authorized users access to, an access-limited apparatus, device, network or system, e.g. a computer terminal, an internet bank or a corporate or government intranet. The access device comprises an integrated circuit (IC) providing increased security by bridging the functionality of biometrics input from a user and, upon positive authentication of the user's fingerprint locally to provide secure communication with the said access-limited apparatus, device, network or system, whether local or remote. A corresponding method of using the portable device or the embedded device is disclosed for providing a bridge from biometrics input to a computer locally, into secure communication protocol responses to a non-biometrics network. A method of providing secured access control and user input in stand-alone appliances having an embedded access control or user input device according to the invention is also disclosed.