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Biometrics Win Support From the Lazy

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i-have-to-use-my-finger-to-type-pshh dept.

judgecorp writes "We're used to discussions about privacy and security, but amongst users, the real issue is ease of use, according to a survey by Unisys. It's not a huge sample, but ten percent of the users in Asia were happy to be chipped and have done with it." From the article: "Frost & Sullivan security analyst James Turner said while speed of identity verification may be driving people's acceptance of biometrics, the key issue is that biometrics can be a security block, rather than an enabler. Turner added that what is more important in the smartcard debate is ratifying exactly where the identification data is stored. "

6 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. The problem being... by Churla · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I don't want an RFID which simply spews out "yes this is Churla" to any device requesting my identity because that it far too easy to spoof. Anything transmitted is just a transmission and on the most basic level can be recorded and rebroadcast by someone else.

    This brings around the point that you would still need a second means of authentication anyways. meaning either a password/code to enter that you knew, or possibly some biometrics like fingerprints/retina scans. I don't trust facial geometry scanning because it also is dupable easier than stealing a retina.

    --
    I'm a fiscal conservative, it's a pity we don't have a political party anymore
  2. the real issue is ease of use... by Grrr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Mold the technology to the users, not the other way around. Check.

    < grrr / >

  3. Turn it off? by joke_dst · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The main issue I have with putting chips under my skin is that I can't take it out whenever I want! If there were a convenient way to turn it off I might do it...

    (But carrying around a device for turning it off kind of circumvent the whole idea... Then i could just carry an ID card with an off switch instead)

  4. Morbidity by Billosaur · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Mind you... if all they need is a fingerprint and/or data from your RFID implant, a crook wouldn't even need you alive. The RFID chip would supposedly keep working for a while and fingerprints don't depend on you being alive. Retinas would be a different story, since they require a constant blood flow, though I'm not sure what the decay rate is for retinal tissue when you die.

    Food for thought.

    --
    GetOuttaMySpace - The Anti-Social Network
  5. Wait a minute... by bensafrickingenius · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "ten percent of the users in Asia were happy to be chipped and have done with it."

    Is being "chipped" biometrics at all? Or am I being a semantics Nazi?

    --
    I am not left-handed, either!
  6. Excuse me? Lazy? by Otter · · Score: 5, Insightful
    from the i-have-to-use-my-finger-to-type-pshh dept.

    I don't think the users are sick of having to type -- they're sick of the situation created by lazy-ass admins who think that you create security by having 30 different accounts, each with >8 characters, with mandatory uppercase, lowercase, numerics and punctuation. Oh, and they all have to be rotated at 60 day intervals and it's easy because you just make up a little story about each of your convoluted passwords, remember all 30 of them and make up a new one and forget the old one every time you change the password!

    I just had to change and lengthen my purchasing account password because, y'know, there's a huge problem with h4x0rs ordering office supplies in my name. I'll tell you where I'd like to implant an RFID chip...

    --
    What I'm listening to now on Pandora...