Provided are apparatus, system and methods for accessing information utilizing an authentication system for verifying that a user is an authorized user of the information access device, and that activation of the device is valid to access the information. The authentication system included in the device issued to an authorized user, reads a user's fingerprint using a reader and compares the user's fingerprint as read with a stored fingerprint of the authorized user of the device, thereby determining if the user is the authorized user. If the user is the authorized user, a pseudo-random generator generates a personal identification number for use by the user to validate activation of the device for accessing information.