Comments on: Fingerprint readers on laptops: why? http://moshez.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/fingerprint-readers-on-laptops-why/ Where Moshe Z knows your name Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:05:59 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: moshez http://moshez.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/fingerprint-readers-on-laptops-why/#comment-325 moshez Sun, 18 May 2008 09:11:41 +0000 http://moshez.wordpress.com/?p=117#comment-325 1. I am not sure what attacks are the "passwords" meant to foil, unless it is "logging into the domain". If it's logging into the domain, and you're using fingerprints, I'm not sure how it works -- does the domain get bits directly from the fingerprint, or is there a password on the laptop which is sent to the domain? 2. Encryption using fingerprints: it's probably not smart to leave the key *all over the laptop*: perhaps you are a cleaner person than I, but I don't doubt if anyone was to dust my laptop for prints, they would get them in abundance. Perhaps it's useful against the "incompetent wife" attack -- but honestly, this is kind of niche? ETA: I sure hope his wife doesn't find <a href="http://gagspace.com/video/how_to_hack_a_fingerprint_scanner" rel="nofollow">the easy explanation on how to bypass fingerprint scanners</a> 1. I am not sure what attacks are the “passwords” meant to foil, unless it is “logging into the domain”. If it’s logging into the domain, and you’re using fingerprints, I’m not sure how it works — does the domain get bits directly from the fingerprint, or is there a password on the laptop which is sent to the domain?

2. Encryption using fingerprints: it’s probably not smart to leave the key *all over the laptop*: perhaps you are a cleaner person than I, but I don’t doubt if anyone was to dust my laptop for prints, they would get them in abundance. Perhaps it’s useful against the “incompetent wife” attack — but honestly, this is kind of niche?

ETA: I sure hope his wife doesn’t find the easy explanation on how to bypass fingerprint scanners

]]> By: prodlife http://moshez.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/fingerprint-readers-on-laptops-why/#comment-311 prodlife Thu, 15 May 2008 22:04:10 +0000 http://moshez.wordpress.com/?p=117#comment-311 Its for convenience. Easier to slide finger than enter password. Especially in companies that require minimum of 12 characters in password (mixed case, numbers, special chars, etc). Vista has good integration with these readers, and you can encrypt files/directories and open them using finger print. A friend of mine uses it to hide porn videos/photos from his wife. Its for convenience. Easier to slide finger than enter password. Especially in companies that require minimum of 12 characters in password (mixed case, numbers, special chars, etc).

Vista has good integration with these readers, and you can encrypt files/directories and open them using finger print. A friend of mine uses it to hide porn videos/photos from his wife.

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