Do fingerprint scanners really work?
From the mailnag: “When I went shopping for a laptop recently, I saw new models that require your fingerprint scan to unlock features. Do they really work?”
Today’s laptops are ultra-portable, relatively affordable and programmed with integrated wireless connectivity that lets you log online virtually anywhere, thanks to millions of Wi-Fi hot spots. But what happens if your laptop is stolen or lost?
The unfortunate reality is that losing the computer itself might be the least of your worries when you consider the valuable data that resides on it.
One of the solutions that can greatly reduce the odds of your information falling into the wrong hands is a built-in fingerprint reader. That way you, and only you, can access your important files and folders. As you know, there are no two fingerprints alike in the world.
A small finger scanner is usually located near the keyboard or just underneath the laptop’s LCD screen. Many PC manufacturers today offer laptops with this biometrics solution, which uses a part of your body to identify you. On a related note, some computers offer facial recognition, via the webcam, instead of a fingerprint reader. These identify your face before letting you log into your computer.
Fingerprint scanning works, yes, but it’s not a bad idea to think of it as compliment — rather than replacement — to a traditional laptop password. No technology is 100 percent effective, and you don’t want to be locked out of your own laptop in case the reading is off for some reason (such as damage to the scanner).
A few third-party fingerprint scanners also exist and plug into the laptop’s USB port. But it’s handy when this technology is integrated into the laptop itself.
Well it is a good idea but if someone steals your laptop and if you have dirty secrets in that laptop , the theft can just removed your hard drive and still be able to hack pass the scanner security hardware and software on another computer. Secret is better kept inside your head or on a piece of paper kept under your bed.
I agree with Alex. The fact is, although unlikely you would encounter, the possibility of 2 identical fingerprints. I recently watched a hacker bypass passcodes on a personal computer using a program for that purpose -it took about 2 minutes and he was into all the files on a computer he had never touched or seen before. This was sanctioned by the computer owner by the way. As soon as you share a secret, electronically or otherwise, it is not a secret any more and out of your control. There has been nothing made by one (or more) human beings that cannot be bypassed by another. One positive attribute about biometrics though – you don’t need to store all your passcodes in other electronic equipment in order to remember them.
I have a lot to learn…Thank you for your discussions!!
I’M LIKE BARBARA i HAVE A LOT TO LEARN
I DONT HAVE WIRELESS BUT THAT WILL CHANGE SOON I WILL BE MOVING UP NORTH DELL TOLD ME I CAN BUY A STICK & PUT IT IN MY COMP HOPE IT WORKS
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I’ve had my hp with fp scanner for about a year now and I love the fp reader for logging on. It’s a little fussy about how you swipe it, but works nicely. I don’t rely on it for security, but for ease and speed of logging on – it can’t be beat. I wish I had one on all my computers.
I’d rather have you investigate the question: do so-called ‘lie detectors’ really work. Although it’s a 19th century Mary Shelley like vision of the machine as God, most of our police forces use them and seem to believe in them.
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Fingerprint lock? With the owner/users fingerprints all over the laptop lol. Liftem and shiftem. Bye