It is rumoured that Apple will debut the MacBook Pro 2013 and the MacBook Retina on Oct 22 and while the spotlight is focused more on the devices to stand on OS X Maverick and run on Intel Haswell CPU, Touch ID emerges as part of the package.

Apple unveiled this feature via the iPhone 5S and reports in recent days point to the likelihood that fingerprint scanner is also set to be deployed with the iPad Mini 2 and the thinner and lighter iPad 5.

The tech giant insists that with biometrics coming into play, the security protocol governing its iOS devices has become more robust. Now if persistent whispers lead to reality, upcoming Mac lines will require not only pass codes but also unique fingerprints from users, which in theory add another layer of protection to the Maverick-powered laptops.

While Touch ID far from perfect, the Macs borrowing them from iOS devices is not a bad idea at all and listed below are the advantages that Mac buyers will get if indeed the security feature is extended to the OS X system:

Better multiple-user privacy on Macs

Like its Windows counterparts, the Mac (and the iMac as well) allows the creation of numerous user profile in a single machine. Normally, each user relies on passwords to enjoy some semblance of privacy while sharing the computer with another user.

If Touch ID will also feature file protection, aside from asking for users to provide their fingerprints each time they log in, then users can take comfort on the fact that unless a spouse or a child sharing the device is a skilled hacker, their privacy is somehow intact.

Higher protection against theft

Not all Mac users use pass codes to guard their laptops against intruders or even thieves. Maybe they dismiss the strength of passwords, which for the eagle-eye are easy to catch when a Mac owner must unlock it in public.

But not with Touch ID on Mac as even when all eyes are set to somebody pressing his scanned prints into a MacBook there is no way that inimitable personal data can be lifted without the aid of advanced tech tools.

And the alternative is too gruesome, which is cutting off a MacBook owner's correct finger.

Even when a MacBook is stolen, wiping off the device's old data will become more impossible, that is if Apple would integrate the new iOS 7 feature of requiring the Apple ID password before a unit can be reformatted. This works best with the Find My iPhone service, according to Gotta Be Mobile, which of course in the MacBook Pro will be renamed as Find My Mac.

Stronger online security

When fingerprint scanner was first floated as coming with the iPhone 5S, analyst suggested that the feature will be paired with near-field communication or NFC, which is a combo that provides a sturdier blanket of protection for consumers.

With Touch ID migrating to the OS X platform, it is highly likely that Apple will integrate the use of fingerprints to gain entry on social media, email and cloud computing accounts like Facebook, Yahoo Mail and iCloud.

Touch ID should also prove useful in giving shoppers peace of mind whenever they purchase anything online, which later on should leapfrog the online retail industry into providing a more secure environment for the millions of web buyers.

The MacBook Pro 2013 is expected to be given a grand preview on Oct 22, along with the iPad 5 and the iPad Mini 2, with the release date to follow in the immediate weeks or even days.