IBM Introduces Biometric Thinkpad

An anonymous reader writes "IBM has added biometric security to its thinkpad notebooks. The next generation of T series thinkpads will have an integrated fingerprint scanner for added security. The latest machines will also include some pretty cool encryption software, that will keep your hard disk safe, but still let you backup and restore images. This guy managed to get his hands on an early prototype T42 with the new security features integrated."

Comments

swipe scan

[dirvish]

"IBM has chosen to go with a swipe-scanner rather than a touch-scanner, for a number of reasons. First and foremost is that a swipe-scanner provides better security. Because you have to drag your fingertip across the scanner, there is no way to "lift" a fingerprint from the surface."

That is a great idea. Such an elegant solution to what could have been a big problem.

But...

[Sensible Clod]

will IBM include linux support?

Safe... but from whom?

[Tackhead]

If they designed it in such a way that the LEA backdoor is secure (say, it's got an LEA public key on it, and the private key is kept in the forensics labs), I'll buy one tomorrow. I don't have a need to defend against .gov adversaries - I just want to know that the data on my drives remains secure even after someone steals 'em to get his or her crack fix.

If, however, they designed it in such a way that the backdoor is not secure (say, a default password stored in cleartext on a serial EEPROM), that's another story. I'll download the crack when it comes out next week, and my soldering iron and I will have an endless supply of cheap entertainment when the machines start showing up at the surplus stores in 2009.

I feel sorry for someone who loses a finger.

[CyberLord Seven]

This is cool though. I like how IBM put the fingerprint ID tech in front of Windows. That means Linux based OSs can also take advantage of this when these machines are being sold as refurbished in a few years.

I'm a little disappointed that the encryption stuff may not transfer well to non-Windows OSs.

Now what happens when someones finger is damaged to due fire, electrical shock, or blunt trauma? I had this problem with an old Compaq laptop that had a system password at the BIOS level. It made the laptop permanently mine since I didn't want to disclose my password to anyone else.

I know there's room for 21 different fingerprints, but I wonder how many end users are going to think to register more than one of their fingers...just in case.