Toshiba Puts Fingerprint Readers on Cell Phones

An anonymous reader writes "As if it wasn't enough to have fingerprint scanners on laptops, Toshiba has put them on two of its latest smart phones. The Toshiba G500 and G900 feature fingerprint scanners on the back of the handsets, allowing users to access their phone by simply sliding their finger over the scanner. This is supposed to provide a better level of security than using a code of some sort. Of course it also means that someone is more likely to chop your hand off if they desperately want your data."

Comments

Better security?

[Niten]

Of course it also means that someone is more likely to chop your hand off if they desperately want your data.

More realistically, you'd also have to worry about somebody lifting your fingerprint from, say, the phone itself, then using that to log in. The MythBusters did a segment showing how easy it is to lift somebody's fingerprint, then use that print to defeat a scanner.

This thing isn't going to increase security, it's only going to increase convenience.