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Why no fingerprint reader on Macs?
- Thread starter DakotaGuy
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Well if you're really adventurous you could always put one in yourself like this guy did.
Bear in mind I don't think it worked in OS X, just Windows. But there you have it, it's doable.
That is one ugly thing. I think the way it protects your mbp is by turning any would-be thief away by being that horrific looking.
when i was configuring keychain, i wondered why apple doesn't include the option of putting a fingerprint reader on the MBP also. i think apple could certainly integrate a FP reader in one of the two empty spaces around the directional keys. while some question the security of FP readers, i definitely think that apple can make it secure and it would come in handy for logging in, opening sensitive data, etc.
i, for one, would like to see a FP reader on the next gen MB/MBP.
i, for one, would like to see a FP reader on the next gen MB/MBP.
Scanning your finger is way too much work for security. When is everyone going to realize that telepathic readings are the way to go. You just sit next to your computer and it just reads your passwords from you just thinking them. Totally secure. No typing. No one would ever be able to copy your thoughts. Anyone could use it (definitely not discriminatory against any paraplegics). Now that would be the GREATEST security ever.
I guess until then I'll just remember a password. Humph...lame.
I guess until then I'll just remember a password. Humph...lame.
Yeah I guess I learned that the hard way with this thread.
It's not worthless because it does save time when it comes to things you want to provide minimum security for...and yes it can be used as an extra security feature because you can set it up to require a password AND a finger scan.
Anyhow if there was a way that Apple could integrate this feature without hurting the appearance of their hardware, I don't see why it would be a bad thing.
If Apple did add something like this in the next Macbook Pro revision how many people's opinions on a fingerprint scanner would change in here??? I'm guessing 90%
They are useless. They are so easily beaten it is not funny. All you need to beat they is a photo copy of your finger. Try it yourself
Correct answer. It's silly how pathetic they are as a form of security.
Fingerprint scanners are worthless. What we really need is that device seen in the movie Gattaca that pin pricks your finger and takes a blood sample, sequences your DNA, and figures out if the person is the correct owner of the laptop, that would be sweet...or not. My MB might like the taste of blood too much lol.
On a side note, Happy Father's Day to everyone who is a father.
On a side note, Happy Father's Day to everyone who is a father.
Actually, the new fingerprint scanners are much better.
On my IBM/lenovo laptop it is a small metal bar that you slide your finger across (1cm wide x 0.2cm tall) . This is much more secure than the prior scanners where you put your entire finger on it and where prior posters say they weren't very secure. Each time you have to swipe your finger across the scanner so you can't lift the image from prior log-ins since you're smudging the scanner as you wipe it with your finger.
If laptop is stolen the thief still needs to not only find your print to swipe but also figure out which print is yours!
All the mac folks here missed the real reason Apple doesn't add finger scanners to the laptops, apple are mostly for "consumer" machines and not businesses.
On my IBM/lenovo laptop it is a small metal bar that you slide your finger across (1cm wide x 0.2cm tall) . This is much more secure than the prior scanners where you put your entire finger on it and where prior posters say they weren't very secure. Each time you have to swipe your finger across the scanner so you can't lift the image from prior log-ins since you're smudging the scanner as you wipe it with your finger.
If laptop is stolen the thief still needs to not only find your print to swipe but also figure out which print is yours!
All the mac folks here missed the real reason Apple doesn't add finger scanners to the laptops, apple are mostly for "consumer" machines and not businesses.
No they don't. They don't need to mess with the silly scanner at all to get access if they have physical access to the system like that.
If you want a real mild level of security, a decent password is a lot more effective than a gimmicky scanner. Though it's still worthless if someone gets hold of your machine.
The only solution that *might* give some decent security in that situation is a Windows laptop with a TPM, setting it up so the entire drive is encrypted and can't be used in another system.
All the mac folks here missed the real reason Apple doesn't add finger scanners to the laptops, apple are mostly for "consumer" machines and not businesses.
Macs are used tons in businesses. I'd say 20% of the systems I see are Apple, and the rest are Dell at my place, and it's not the only company like that.
Just curious have you used a finger scanner lately? The way it works on Lenovo's is the finger scanner is an addition to the password. You first have to create real passwords at both bios and windows level. When you start up the system waits for you to either scan your finger to start windows or enter the password. So there is a password! This scan will also log you into windows as well. The finger scanner is just to provide a convenience and not the actual password.
Agreed, best method is to encrypt the entire drive as once physical access is obtained it's just a matter of time and will before someone gets in...Anyway, it doesn't really matter. If someone wants into your machine nothing will stop them, you can only slow the attacker down -- that's it. I just wanted to be sure folks understood this is how the new scanner software works nowadays.
Wow, that's just great you're lucky to work with businesses that use apple. How exciting for you! All the businesses I work with, and the 95% of the rest of the world are 100% Windows.
Finance, large hospitals, law are all Windows. You and I might not agree with this mentality, but it is the truth. If you work in a field where it is different that's wonderful for you.
Actually, the new fingerprint scanners are much better.
On my IBM/lenovo laptop it is a small metal bar that you slide your finger across (1cm wide x 0.2cm tall) . This is much more secure than the prior scanners where you put your entire finger on it and where prior posters say they weren't very secure. Each time you have to swipe your finger across the scanner so you can't lift the image from prior log-ins since you're smudging the scanner as you wipe it with your finger.
If laptop is stolen the thief still needs to not only find your print to swipe but also figure out which print is yours!
All the mac folks here missed the real reason Apple doesn't add finger scanners to the laptops, apple are mostly for "consumer" machines and not businesses.
Yeah my Lenovo has the new style scanner as well. I think it works great...however it does seem to be a feature that is more targeted to business laptops.
Because if really important data become to be routinely protected by fingerprint scanners, the mugs on the street will be demanding your fingers instead of cash.
Generally, encryption through a body part, especially a part that can be easily cut off - and that includes your eyeballs by the way, is a bad idea. I want my fingers and eyeballs to be valuable for me and only for me and to have zero value, separated, for anybody else.
Generally, encryption through a body part, especially a part that can be easily cut off - and that includes your eyeballs by the way
, is a bad idea. I want my fingers and eyeballs to be valuable for me and only for me and to have zero value, separated, for anybody else.Because if really important data become to be routinely protected by fingerprint scanners, the mugs on the street will be demanding your fingers instead of cash.
Generally, encryption through a body part, especially a part that can be easily cut off - and that includes your eyeballs by the way
That's very true, I recall an article a while back now of somebody who had his car with fingerprint scanners put into it so that he didn't need a key. He had a bunch of thieves chop his finger off and make off with the car.
They do have biosensors that can detect if the limb has been cut off. They sense body temp to work. If it's a little off (more than fever) then it wouldn't work.
In my experience the current fingerprint readers are flakey. I can see why Apple doesn't implement them yet.
My Thinkpad has a fingerprint reader and gah, it's usually faster to type in my 23 character password than it is to get it to work. Not that it fails often but it takes several seconds to "process the fingerprint"
There's still the compromise between cost, ease of use, effectiveness and (in Apple's case) aesthetics.
I feel compelled to type that my dad has one on his HP Laptop, and with his disabilities it's way easier for him to use that than to have to type his passwords all the time.
There is something useful about it.
I have about 10 PW's for my website - i'd actually love to just swipe my finger on something rather than typing and finding where i wrote them all down.
There is something useful about it.
I have about 10 PW's for my website - i'd actually love to just swipe my finger on something rather than typing and finding where i wrote them all down.
Just use Firefox in that case. It'll provide real security, versus the pseudo-security of a finger scanner.