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I really don't think fingerprint as personal key is a good idea. It's not as private as your personal passphrase. A lot others might have it. (e.g. US Visa Offi

by songgao 13y ago

I really don't think fingerprint as personal key is a good idea. It's not as private as your personal passphrase. A lot others might have it. (e.g. US Visa Office took my fingerprints when I was applying a Visa). If it's not private, how could it be used as private key or master password?

untog 13y ago
But your personal passphrase is only secure until someone watches you enter it from afar. None of these solutions are perfect, but the fingerprinting is significantly better. The sensor is complex enough that I very much doubt you could just use a printout of a fingerprint to fool it.
- songgao 13y ago
  You are right. But passphrase can be reset; fingerprint is permanent... EDIT: as to sensor complexity, if it can be built into a home button, it'll be implemented on other fingerprint readers. Before long, people would be collecting fingerprints using this kind of advanced sensors..
Zikes 13y ago
I saw a Mythbusters episode where they defeated a fingerprint scanner with a home printer copy of a fingerprint they lifted off a CD case with superglue.
- madisp 13y ago
  Good thing that one doesn't have to go looking for a CD case - there are probably prints on the touchscreen :)
- apendleton 13y ago
  I'm not sure all fingerprints are created equal, though. Maybe this one detects depth in some fashion?
CamperBob2 13y ago
Although imperfect, it does need to be offered for people like myself who hate dealing with passwords, don't want to goof around with password storage apps, and aren't paranoid about someone lifting their fingerprints.
RivieraKid 13y ago
Fingerprint is (currently) about as secure as a personal passphrase while providing much better user experience.
iamshs 13y ago
It is sub-epidermal, so maybe it is really more complex then just pressing photocopy of a fingerprint in front. Also, I think the steel ring around the button detects capacitance. Pretty sure, these cases have been evaluated by their engineers. Afterall, Apple will know about it, their ipad was used in MI to get into Kremlin. Ha.
dragonwriter 13y ago
> I really don't think fingerprint as personal key is a good idea. It's not. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6361968 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6361968

by songgao 13y ago

untog 13y ago

But your personal passphrase is only secure until someone watches you enter it from afar. None of these solutions are perfect, but the fingerprinting is significantly better. The sensor is complex enough that I very much doubt you could just use a printout of a fingerprint to fool it.

songgao 13y ago
You are right. But passphrase can be reset; fingerprint is permanent... EDIT: as to sensor complexity, if it can be built into a home button, it'll be implemented on other fingerprint readers. Before long, people would be collecting fingerprints using this kind of advanced sensors..

Zikes 13y ago

I saw a Mythbusters episode where they defeated a fingerprint scanner with a home printer copy of a fingerprint they lifted off a CD case with superglue.

madisp 13y ago
Good thing that one doesn't have to go looking for a CD case - there are probably prints on the touchscreen :)
apendleton 13y ago
I'm not sure all fingerprints are created equal, though. Maybe this one detects depth in some fashion?

CamperBob2 13y ago

Although imperfect, it does need to be offered for people like myself who hate dealing with passwords, don't want to goof around with password storage apps, and aren't paranoid about someone lifting their fingerprints.

RivieraKid 13y ago

Fingerprint is (currently) about as secure as a personal passphrase while providing much better user experience.

iamshs 13y ago

It is sub-epidermal, so maybe it is really more complex then just pressing photocopy of a fingerprint in front. Also, I think the steel ring around the button detects capacitance. Pretty sure, these cases have been evaluated by their engineers. Afterall, Apple will know about it, their ipad was used in MI to get into Kremlin. Ha.

dragonwriter 13y ago

> I really don't think fingerprint as personal key is a good idea. It's not. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6361968 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6361968