links for 2006-10-27
Posted on October 28, 2006 - Filed Under links, security | Leave a Comment
Schneier on Security: Heathrow Tests Biometric ID
The system under trial at Heathrow is a good use of biometrics. There’s a trusted path from the person through the reader to the verifier; attempts to use fake eyeballs will be immediately obvious and suspicious. The verifier is being asked to match a bio
(tags: biometrics security airport * [...]
links for 2006-10-23
Posted on October 24, 2006 - Filed Under fiction, links, security | Leave a Comment
Strange Horizons Fiction: High Windows, by Lavie Tidhar
Part One:
Saturn/Escape
“You’re not supposed to be here, kid.”
(tags: fiction sf free * *toconvert)
Researchers See Privacy Pitfalls in No-Swipe Credit Cards - New York Times
“It’s the classic ‘Let’s depend on security through obscurity — who’s going to look?’ ” he said. “Then, whoops! As soon as somebody does look, [...]
links for 2006-10-06
Posted on October 7, 2006 - Filed Under links, security | Leave a Comment
The Lockdown: The Targus iPod Lock, or, a modicum of security - Engadget
They are only aiming to provide what they call “a modicum of security.” That means, as the definition implies, almost no security at all. It is only an illusion and offers slightly more than nothing in the way of protection.
(tags: security ipod)
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Posted on April 20, 2006 - Filed Under security, terrorism, usa | Leave a Comment
A fine example of post hoc ergo propter hoc (you may know this as post hoc):
There have been no significant terrorist attacks against the U.S. since the release of the iPod in October 2001, thus demonstrating the value of iPods in fighting terrorism.
Link (it’s a comment, scroll down)
Problems with Microsoft Fingerprint Reader
Posted on March 7, 2006 - Filed Under biometrics, fingerprint, security | Leave a Comment
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.
[...]
Biodynamic Signatures
Posted on March 7, 2006 - Filed Under biometrics, security | Leave a Comment
Apparently you can use your heart beat as a biometric identifier.
The device - which looks like small computer mouse with two metal contacts, when touched for a few seconds using one finger from each hand to complete the circuit, measures several factors in the heartbeat to record the “biodynamic signature” - a combination of electrical [...]
Bill of Rights - Security Edition
Posted on January 30, 2006 - Filed Under Blogger Posts, humour, security | Leave a Comment
Not being an American, this isn’t directly relevant to me, but it is still fairly amusing:
The Bill of Rights: The First Ten Amendments to the constitution of the United States printed on sturdy, pocket-sized, pieces of metal.
The next time you travel by air, take the Bill of Rights - Security Edition along with you. When [...]
Caesars Palace to launch guest biometrics
Posted on April 25, 2005 - Filed Under Blogger Posts, biometrics, security | Leave a Comment
You probably already know I think this is a bad idea:
Pride believes the move to fingerprint biometrics makes it more convenient for customers who need not worry about lost keys.
Yeah, lets just start handing out our biometric information to anyone in the name of convenience. This just means that the security of any one application [...]
‘OKAO Vision Face Recognition Sensor’ for Mobile Phones
Posted on April 22, 2005 - Filed Under Blogger Posts, biometrics, face recognition, security | Leave a Comment
I found this on Engadget a couple of days ago, and thought it might be interesting to some people: OMRON Demonstrates ‘OKAO Vision Face Recognition Sensor’ for Mobile Phones at Security Show Japan 2005
The new system features face-recognition technology for camera-enabled cell phones and other devices as an alternative to passwords or fingerprint scanners for [...]
Will biometric security harm users?
Posted on March 20, 2005 - Filed Under Blogger Posts, biometrics, security | Leave a Comment
vnunet.com writes in Will biometric security harm users?
Most worrying is the fact that biometric parameters are largely permanent. This is a limitation, not an advantage - if someone learns your password, you can change it, but you can’t change your fingers if a criminal manages to replicate your fingerprint.
As Bruce Schneir has said, biometrics are [...]