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Fun with Fingerprint Readers

Posted by michael on from the black-forest-or-haribo dept.

Two pieces of news that came in today make a fun counterpoint to each other. First, a grocery chain is trying out a biometric checkout system. Bring your groceries, pay with a fingerprint. Unfortunately, a story in Bruce Schneier's monthly newsletter notes that fingerprint scanners can be fooled with a bit of gelatin.

2 of 298 comments (clear)

  1. Biometrics by Computer! · · Score: 2, Redundant

    Could someone please explain the problem with biometrics for ID? I mean, I get the creeps when I think about companies storing biometric data, but I'm not sure why. Why should I be scared? This is a legitimate question. Please outline a scenario for misuse, or the downsides to using biometrics for identification.

    Thanks.

    --
    If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy
  2. Re:More secure then Credit Cards at least by anthony_dipierro · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Seems like it takes quite a while to create a fake finger tip and theres a lot more chance for error.

    Yeah, but unlike credit card numbers, when your fingerprint gets stolen you can't just get a new one.

    While I pry wouldnt soley rely on fingerprint scanners for something high security, for buying groceries, if this were offered in my area, Id sign up in a second.

    As long as I'm not liable for unauthorized purchases, just like I'm not liable with a credit card, I'd sign up for just about any system.