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Japan Researchers Warn of Fingerprint Theft From 'Peace' Sign (phys.org)
Tulsa_Time quotes a report from Phys.Org: Could flashing the "peace" sign in photos lead to fingerprint data being stolen? Research by a team at Japan's National Institute of Informatics (NII) says so, raising alarm bells over the popular two-fingered pose. Fingerprint recognition technology is becoming widely available to verify identities, such as when logging on to smartphones, tablets and laptop computers. But the proliferation of mobile devices with high-quality cameras and social media sites where photographs can be easily posted is raising the risk of personal information being leaked, reports said. The NII researchers were able to copy fingerprints based on photos taken by a digital camera three meters (nine feet) away from the subject.
Fix your fucking website already
Years of burning their fingers on the glass bong have rendered this technique ineffective.
Fingerprints are not used for authentication, right? So it's not a problem, is it?
Even the kids in my school get this - you do have to explain the first time but then it's obvious to them.
Where do you write down your password? Almost nowhere (some of our kids have password in their planners and things like that, but they have no access anyway).
Where do you leave your fingerprint? Everywhere you go, on everything you touch, including the device you're logging into, and every device you've ever logged into.
Though we don't get high-level attacks, I feel that users need to only have this explained once to question the James Bond etc. concept of using fingerprints for doors, high security facilities, etc.
The fact that cameras are at the point that you can photograph someone's fingerprint? That's been true for a little while. That means that Trump / May / whatever leader's fingerprints have basically been public-domain for the world's spies for many years. Hence you should be SERIOUSLY questioning use of fingerprints as anything more than convenience or casual use.
Instead of making a peace sign when having your photo taken, an obvious solution is to flip the bird instead! Your fingerprints are facing away from the camera. All of the problems are solved, once and for all!
I would much rather have a photo of my fingers stolen than have my fingers, or finger tips stolen!
~ People that think they are better than anyone else for any reason are the cause of all the strife in the world.
German defense minister got her fingerprints "stolen" in a similar fashion two years ago.
It's the V for victory
The proposed solution is to hold your hand the other way around exposing only your fingernails. ;-)
on your forehead right? For anyone to see?
Then why do people think information you leave all over the place is a replacement for a password?
I guess the horns "\m/" sign is also affected, even though you're displaying only your index and pinky fingers. The vulcan greeting sign "_\\//" would be the worst to photograph, since it displays all the fingerprints.
The sign they are talking about is the V of Vrijheid and Victoire, after the Dutch word for Freedom and the French word for Victory. People in occupied Belgium used it during WWII. The gesture was used as a response to the Nazi salute, and was used every time the Germans lost a battle (the news was spread by the BBC). This way the people managed to scare the German soldier, and indirectly instructed them to be nice and to not commit war crimes. This sign was adopted in both the Netherlands and France and was even picked up by Churchill who made the symbol for the allies (after having done it wrong the first few times, he showed the back of his hands which was a way to insult other people in the British lower classes).
HA! I am now in possession of the fingerprints from the famous Briton, Winston Churchill! I bet I can get into many secret places with them and do many evil deeds!
#DeleteChrome
They should just reverse the hand gesture and show the camera their fingernails.