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Getting Fingerprint Readers to Read Your Prints?
crypticgeek asks: "I recently obtained a new job, and I'm already at my wit's end. Many of the doors in our facility have finger print readers because they are high security areas. No matter how hard I've tried, I can't get the system to read my prints very well, since they aren't well 'defined'. This means I don't have access to the areas I need to. I have to have someone else let me in to secure areas. I've tried using lotion thinking they were too dry, but that didn't work. In fact, most of the time my hands are really sweaty. Someone suggested I use nail polish remover and that would 'raise' the print, however I'm skeptical. Has anyone else had problems with finger print devices, or know of some possible ways of getting a better read?"
...and make a fake finger. I read here on /. that Play-Doh can fool a fingerpint scanner. Might be worth a try.
If I have problem with my fingerprint readers, I usually scrape two fingers together (one being the referance print) to try and bring up the print ridges much like you would to get the nap in your flooring carpet to fluff up... Usually works for me...
Erutangis ym si siht.
You might have already tried this, but what about increasing the sensitivity threshold on the fingerprint reader. I know our system has the ability to increase or decrease this threshold.
-- Best Greetings Cards Ever
Why not "change your password" by using a different finger?
Surely this is your employer's problem, not yours, given that they're the ones who've implemented a faulty security system? As it's impeding your ability to do your job, it's costing them money and so is in their best interests to fix.
This isn't an instant solution but it will probably work in the near-term. Try sanding down the pads of your finger(s). The skin will grow back thicker, i.e. it will callous, and your prints will be more distinct. I play guitar and the pads of my left fingers are about 1/16" thick. Last time I was fingerprinted (for a concealed weapon permit, if you're curious) the cop who did it told me I had the best prints he had seen in a long time.
To ensure perfect aim, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target
You might be able to enter as the previous person ;).
On many fingerprint readers there's usually this glass thingy where you put your finger. Usually the oils from the previous print will be left on the glass, by breathing on it, you can often fog up the glass to create an image which can be read by the reader.
With most biometric systems you need a human or something monitoring that no funny business like this is happening.
Anyway, you should just make a distinctive mold, register it and put it on your keychain.
"Cleaning people are usually outsourced these days, and usually get issued keys."
You ain't kidding.
I've done work for a company that had my office retrofitted with a new cardkey access and as official policy -- we needed a key'd entry as well to ensure that in power failures and otherwise police or maintence can get in. We had a key made for maintence that was supposed to under no circumstances be let out of the locked keybox and signed for when it was.
Within a week -- every man, woman and child on the cleaning staff in my building was issued a key to my office so that they could get in. I've asked that the lock be changed and the security be reinstituted and was told that if we change the lock without giving it to the building supervisor -- they'd take a torch to it and cut it down.
I offered to make available magnetic keys to a specific number of staff (with specific times they can get in) but their union won't allow that because I can then track the goings and coming of the employees and this is unacceptable.
So yeah, you are exactly right -- give a 6 pack to the cleaning crew and you will get in.