Microsoft Biometric Fingerprint Passwords

[SuepaFly]

My fiancee has one at work, they use them to log into Bloomberg. I think before the fingerprint thing, he had to bring around his secure pass thing that has a different number code ever 30 seconds and punch that in.

 

[rsolomon]

Can any of these biometric devices save an image of the fingerprint? Would be a great way to make my own "ID" cards for my kids each year....

Richard

 

[jamesave]

Originally posted by: rsolomon
Can any of these biometric devices save an image of the fingerprint? Would be a great way to make my own "ID" cards for my kids each year....

Richard

Wouldn't you use a scanner for that?

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: SuepaFly
My fiancee has one at work, they use them to log into Bloomberg. I think before the fingerprint thing, he had to bring around his secure pass thing that has a different number code ever 30 seconds and punch that in.

These aren't exactly the same. Anything that truly needs to be secure shouldn't be secured using one of these. They're fine for a home or something but I recall reading they're pretty easily defeated.

 

[Rupster]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Vich

Originally posted by: h3nG
looks cool, but pointless...

Pointless? I mean yeah if ure just at home and dont have data you want to keep secret. But im sure if i had a work computer i would get one. Looks really hassle free ( hopefully)

passwords are more secure...there was an article a while back where they tried to fool a bunch of biometric devices. It's not as hard as you'd think.

Here's that article - pretty funny stuff:

"Gummy Fingers" Fool Fingerprint Readers

 

[Kobb]

Originally posted by: rsolomon
Can any of these biometric devices save an image of the fingerprint? Would be a great way to make my own "ID" cards for my kids each year....

Richard

Is it true that MS, the recoding industry, and the FBI are teamed up to track software piracy on home users? computers and verify their identity with the help of Microsoft Biometric Fingerprint! :laugh:

 

[kerndads]

I ordered one which will be here later today.....I paid 50 bucks..but then again..my company is paying for it so I dont care....The fact of the matter is that this thing stores all of your password in a database file on your comp..so if someone knew what they were doing ...they could break into your comp get this file and instantly have access to all of your passwords....Its not good for online banking or anything real secure..but it sure as hell looks cool!!!

 

[Shaorinor]

Originally posted by: hifi
too bad i usually eat lunch/dinner/snack while surfing, so, if i do get one it'll get dirty in short.

So clean it.

 

[rsolomon]

Originally posted by: jamesave

Originally posted by: rsolomon
Can any of these biometric devices save an image of the fingerprint? Would be a great way to make my own "ID" cards for my kids each year....

Wouldn't you use a scanner for that?

First you'd have to ink a fingerprint - not easy with a small child. Hoping the biometrics would be a lot easier....

Richard

 

[GoatHerderEd]

Originally posted by: emeraldsky
It doesn't generate the password, it only remembers what you type in - just like Roboform.
I would also worry about how reliable it is.
I wonder if it can handle anything but Internet Explorer. Given Microsoft's checkered past, it probably doesn't support Firefox.

MS also makes IE (i doubt they will be supporting a competing browser.

 

[TechnoPro]

I bought one of these devices from Amazon a few weeks ago (~$40). It has 3 primary functions:

[1] Windows Login - Rather than type in a password, one just scans their finger. Also, with multiple users, it will log in the user into the appropriate account. I am not in a multi-user environment, but I could imagine this to be somewhat practical in a novel sort of way.

[2] Websites - Here's where it's a gem. For work, I do a lot of transactions on the web, all of which require me to log into various accounts. I use comlicated passwords that, while not impossible to remember, can be cumbersome to type. So in the time saving department, this device has already paid for itself. And yes, IE only.

[3] Quick Links - By having the scanner read your finger, a menu will pop up offering you the option of Quick Links. Quick Links are shortcuts of sorts to a websites login page where the software will then input your username / password for you. So it's a brief time saver as it takes you directly into an account page without even firing up a browser.

As for the security of this device, the fact that it can be compromised with "gummy bear" technology is inconsequential to me. If someone has physical access to my PC, then all bets are off as far as I am concerned.

This is a convenience, nothing more. The only negative I can think of the fact that it is limited to IE websites and XP login. I'd like to see it sit atop other apps as well.

 

[GoldFiles]

Good news! Even cheaper this week! Another $10 off after mail-in Rebate. $29.99 after $10 instant and $10 mail in. CompUSA.

 

[mrEvil]

Originally posted by: TechnoPro
I bought one of these devices from Amazon a few weeks ago (~$40). It has 3 primary functions:

[1] Windows Login - Rather than type in a password, one just scans their finger. Also, with multiple users, it will log in the user into the appropriate account. I am not in a multi-user environment, but I could imagine this to be somewhat practical in a novel sort of way.

[2] Websites - Here's where it's a gem. For work, I do a lot of transactions on the web, all of which require me to log into various accounts. I use comlicated passwords that, while not impossible to remember, can be cumbersome to type. So in the time saving department, this device has already paid for itself. And yes, IE only.

[3] Quick Links - By having the scanner read your finger, a menu will pop up offering you the option of Quick Links. Quick Links are shortcuts of sorts to a websites login page where the software will then input your username / password for you. So it's a brief time saver as it takes you directly into an account page without even firing up a browser.

As for the security of this device, the fact that it can be compromised with "gummy bear" technology is inconsequential to me. If someone has physical access to my PC, then all bets are off as far as I am concerned.

This is a convenience, nothing more. The only negative I can think of the fact that it is limited to IE websites and XP login. I'd like to see it sit atop other apps as well.

Well put. The "gummy bear" theory was put to test over a year ago - at least I remember reading it over a year ago. Remember, a year ago you could also put a bic pen into a krytonite bike log and make off with a new bike. The GB theory may have worked on older devices and may work on cheaper ones, but I guarantee it is not going to work on any bio device I have at work.

I do not think this is the forum to debate passwords vs biometrics. That could get lengthly.....bump for a product if you like convienence and are brave enough to use IE. (shudder)

 

[alphabetter]

They are probably closing these out because IO Software who MS was partners with for bio authentication is about to tank -- largely due to MS's disinterest in the subject.

If you want a *REALLY* good unit pickup a sony "FIU". They have built in fingerprint recognition and can store up to 4000 fingerprints locally, but I thinkt he software for them is quite old (at one time I worked at a lab that did research in fingerprints)...Also targus sells a unit for about 40$, as does a couple other companies. One place sells one thats integrated into a keyboard, problem is the keyboard sucks

 

[Deathlord]

My experience;

These scanners are from a company called Digital Persona (www.digitalpersona.com) working with MS. Where I work actually had them come out and demonstrate their product and how it integrates into Active Directory. While really cool, we couldn't really get it to do what we want - which was eliminate passwords, enforce complex and take passwords away form the users.

But, we have sample units (keyboards and just scanners). The workstation software (may not be the same you get with MS) allowed multiple fingers and does not store the print. It encrypts it with an algorithm and stores it. When you visit a site that has a login you would merely touch the scanner and have an option to fingerprint enable a site from the menu. I never tried with Firefox.

You can also set up two (or more) people to use one account with their fingers.

I have seen Targus's version for $35 at ComputerGeeks. Couldn't find it when I just quickly looked.


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