3 ms·

"subpoena proof"... hmm Do you believe disabling the reader in a software-setting is enough to be sure it's not working? I don't. With all these NSA concerns g

by smtddr 13y ago

"subpoena proof"... hmm Do you believe disabling the reader in a software-setting is enough to be sure it's not working? I don't. With all these NSA concerns going about, having a hardware fingerprint-reader on your smartphone that you can't avoid touching is something to think about.

brador 13y ago
You could place a sticker over the reader/home button to block covert reading.
- smtddr 13y ago
  That is a FANTASTIC idea. Get ready to see a kickstarter showing cool button-covers or replacement buttons for those not afraid to open their iPhones.
  - swamp40 13y ago
    Or a Kickstarter selling replica Bin Laden fingers. 10,000 of those would keep the NSA quite busy. (I guess you'd need a live terrorist's finger to replicate though. Those NSA types are pretty smart.)
- VladRussian2 13y ago
  you accidentally touch it one time without cover - done. And all the stores where people come and try the devices... (personally as an immigrant i already have my fingerprints on file, so i have nothing to worry about, it is just very amusing to see how another couple of billions would be gathered as well once Android phones replicate the feature :) Welcome to the Total Information Awareness world.
  - milesskorpen 13y ago
    It takes 30-60 seconds to get a read the first time.
ripter 13y ago
"If you've ever handled a penny, the government's got your DNA. Why do you think they keep 'em in circulation?" - Simpsons
- smtddr 13y ago
  An internet-enabled smartphone fp-reader is probably just a little more accurate than a random penny floating about in society.......-_-
  - PeterisP 13y ago
    Actually, random banknotes can usually be traced to a specific person, so any DNA traces could probably be linked - there have been experiments that show that majority of non-tiny banknotes are [A] put in ATM [B] given out to a known person; [C] given to a shop/vendor; [D] retrieved by the bank. So, given multiple banknotes, they could reasonably list the identities of people who shopped in that shop, simply by looking at the banknote serial numbers.
    - smtddr 13y ago
      That I can understand, but it's "approximate" info on a banknote that probably has a couple of fingerprints. Even if the store had a video-camera, it's gonna be a bit tough to figure out exactly who gave a given $20 bill to the cashier. And since this person is using cash and not a creditcard, all they got is a (usually bad-quality) store-cam of someone that they think is the one who handed a given $20 bill to the cashier... meh, that's pretty fuzzy. Even if I told the FBI that I'm going to the mall and I will spend a $20 bill this Saturday, I think it would still be exceedingly difficult to find the exact bill unless they were tailing me the whole time. In which case I've already been located & identified by the FBI as a person-of-interest within their physical reach, so I'm already as good as dead.
    - jeromeflipo 13y ago
      Do you have any source about such experiment? I've always wondered about the cash flows analytics!
gcr 13y ago
Stick a piece of tape over the home button. Problem solved. It's your hardware after all. If you're worried about it, take steps to protect yourself.
- Someone 13y ago
  Will that work? 'The internet' (e.g. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57602245-37/iphone-5s-comes-with-touch-id-fingerprint-scanner/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57602245-37/iphone-5s-come...) claims the sensor uses capacitance, not a camera, so you might need tinfoil tape.
  - gcr 13y ago
    Well. Being cynical for a moment, that's a great way for Apple to guarantee the fingerprint scanner always gets a good capture. If I ever own one of these phones, I might have to make it a point in my muscle memory to use my knuckle to press the home button.

by smtddr 13y ago

brador 13y ago

You could place a sticker over the reader/home button to block covert reading.

smtddr 13y ago
That is a FANTASTIC idea. Get ready to see a kickstarter showing cool button-covers or replacement buttons for those not afraid to open their iPhones.
- swamp40 13y ago
  Or a Kickstarter selling replica Bin Laden fingers. 10,000 of those would keep the NSA quite busy. (I guess you'd need a live terrorist's finger to replicate though. Those NSA types are pretty smart.)
VladRussian2 13y ago
you accidentally touch it one time without cover - done. And all the stores where people come and try the devices... (personally as an immigrant i already have my fingerprints on file, so i have nothing to worry about, it is just very amusing to see how another couple of billions would be gathered as well once Android phones replicate the feature :) Welcome to the Total Information Awareness world.
- milesskorpen 13y ago
  It takes 30-60 seconds to get a read the first time.

ripter 13y ago

"If you've ever handled a penny, the government's got your DNA. Why do you think they keep 'em in circulation?" - Simpsons

smtddr 13y ago
An internet-enabled smartphone fp-reader is probably just a little more accurate than a random penny floating about in society.......-_-
- PeterisP 13y ago
  Actually, random banknotes can usually be traced to a specific person, so any DNA traces could probably be linked - there have been experiments that show that majority of non-tiny banknotes are [A] put in ATM [B] given out to a known person; [C] given to a shop/vendor; [D] retrieved by the bank. So, given multiple banknotes, they could reasonably list the identities of people who shopped in that shop, simply by looking at the banknote serial numbers.
  - smtddr 13y ago
    That I can understand, but it's "approximate" info on a banknote that probably has a couple of fingerprints. Even if the store had a video-camera, it's gonna be a bit tough to figure out exactly who gave a given $20 bill to the cashier. And since this person is using cash and not a creditcard, all they got is a (usually bad-quality) store-cam of someone that they think is the one who handed a given $20 bill to the cashier... meh, that's pretty fuzzy. Even if I told the FBI that I'm going to the mall and I will spend a $20 bill this Saturday, I think it would still be exceedingly difficult to find the exact bill unless they were tailing me the whole time. In which case I've already been located & identified by the FBI as a person-of-interest within their physical reach, so I'm already as good as dead.
  - jeromeflipo 13y ago
    Do you have any source about such experiment? I've always wondered about the cash flows analytics!

gcr 13y ago

Stick a piece of tape over the home button. Problem solved. It's your hardware after all. If you're worried about it, take steps to protect yourself.

Someone 13y ago
Will that work? 'The internet' (e.g. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57602245-37/iphone-5s-comes-with-touch-id-fingerprint-scanner/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57602245-37/iphone-5s-come...) claims the sensor uses capacitance, not a camera, so you might need tinfoil tape.
- gcr 13y ago
  Well. Being cynical for a moment, that's a great way for Apple to guarantee the fingerprint scanner always gets a good capture. If I ever own one of these phones, I might have to make it a point in my muscle memory to use my knuckle to press the home button.