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Face Recognition Goes Mainstream For Notebooks

Posted by timothy on from the don't-get-too-mangled-at-the-bullfights dept.

MojoKid writes "Consumer and business-class computer security has clearly become more sophisticated over the years. Recent advances in recognition technology have brought forth new capabilities, like what can be found in Toshiba A305 series notebooks. Toshiba's Face Recognition software allows you to log in to the system simply by having your face properly recognized by the integrated webcam during Windows startup. Of course, the system's TrueSuite Access Manager also allows you to do the same, only using your fingers and the integrated fingerprint reader. However, TrueSuite goes a step further with the fingerprint reader, also allowing you to log in to Web sites, applications, and networks as well by using just your fingerprints."

4 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. Oh no! Not again. by pesc · · Score: 4, Informative

    From TFA:

    It is important to note that both fingerprint and face-recognition technologies are not foolproof--there are a number of known, low-tech means of circumventing them. As such, depending on how secure access to your system, data, and Web sites needs to be, you might want to think twice before relying on these alternatives to typewritten passwords.

    Right! Such as presenting it with a photo of the owner. Or using one of several well-known techniques to lift a fingerprint from somewhere (the computer itself?) and create a fake finger.

    Why isn't this kind of "security" generally laughed at by the consumers?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA4Xx5Noxyo
    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/05/16/gummi_bears_defeat_fingerprint_sensors/

    And from 1998:
    http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-9808.html#biometrics

    --

    )9TSS
  2. Now, wiith preloaded crapware! Do not buy. by Animats · · Score: 5, Informative

    The A305-S6845 comes with a fairly crowded Windows desktop, filled with icons for pre-loaded software and web links to numerous free offers.

    This thing has substantial crap preloaded onto it. It even has Vongo pre-installed, which is very hard to uninstall. It has PowerCinema installed, which not only is hard to uninstall but uses resources when idle. And those are just the ones known to be malware. Buy from another vendor.

  3. Yes, they do cut off fingerss. by DingerX · · Score: 4, Informative

    At least once in a while.

    Of course face recognition is good: hold up a photo to the camera, and you're good.

  4. Re:Cut off fingers? by yakumo.unr · · Score: 3, Informative

    March 2005 this had stopped being a joke: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4396831.stm "Malaysia car thieves steal finger"