Problems with Microsoft Fingerprint Reader
Posted on March 7, 2006
Apparently the Microsoft Fingerprint Reader transmits the fingerprint images to the computer un-encrypted. Which is interesting because the technology it is licensed from has encryption built in, Microsoft apparently has just turned it off. Personally I don’t think it is a big deal anyway, as you could just lift a fingerprint from the reader anyway.
Digital Persona would not comment on why Microsoft may have turned off the product’s encryption capabilities, but one company official said that this decision is unlikely to affect the security of its users.“The fact that they turned the encryption off, I would argue, does not in a practical sense open up any security holes,” says Chief Technology Officer Vance Bjorn. “Even with the encryption off, you’re going to have to basically have physical access to the person’s machine to crack into it.”
I agree with him, but only because I think fingerprint readers are useless even with encryption. But, isn’t stopping people with physical access to your computer the entire point of a fingerprint reader.
» Filed Under biometrics, fingerprint, security
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