Microsoft fingerprint scanner

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivor Jones
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Ivor Jones

Just saw this in a local store, what are people's thoughts on this type of
device..? I was thinking of it for use with my laptop. Are they any good
or would I be wasting my money..?

Ivor
 
Ivor said:
Just saw this in a local store, what are people's thoughts on this
type of device..? I was thinking of it for use with my laptop. Are
they any good or would I be wasting my money..?
Click to expand...

"any good" depends what use you want to put them to. It's a nice way of
remembering many different passwords for various websites, if you're the
sort of person who gathers dozens of sites with their own login
requirements.

Do you want an easy conveniant way of "remembering" your passwords for
websites, that doesn't provide a great deal of real security? Then buy
one.

Do you actually want to secure something? Keep your money in your pocket.
Don't believe me? Lets ask Microsoft!

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...4453-a449-7a1c586a3ae5/Fingerprint_Reader.pdf
is the online location of the manual in PDF format. Read page 2 for
yourself. And Page 4, where it notes it won't work in a domain.

It's very good at what it does. But what it does isn't "security".

--
--
Rob Moir, Microsoft MVP for Security
Blog Site - http://www.robertmoir.com
Virtual PC 2004 FAQ -
http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html
I'm always surprised at "professionals" who STILL have to be asked:
"Have you checked (event viewer / syslog)".
 
message
[snip]
It's very good at what it does. But what it does isn't
"security".
Click to expand...

Thanks, that (sort of..!) answers my question. Yes it would be useful to
remember plenty of passwords, but the built in password memory in Firefox
does that for me. I was looking more for a way to if not prevent then
greatly reduce the possibility of someone who maybe stole my laptop to
gain access to it. What would you recommend as a reasonably effective way
of doing this..? I am perfectly aware that someone who *really* wants in
will get in, but I'd like an effective means of deterring the
casual/opportunist intruder.

I remember seeing somewhere once a USB "dongle" that was supposed to
render a machine inaccessible (ok, almost..!) unless it was in a slot on
the machine. Are they any use..?

Ivor
 
Ivor said:
message
[snip]
It's very good at what it does. But what it does isn't
"security".
Click to expand...

Thanks, that (sort of..!) answers my question. Yes it would be useful
to remember plenty of passwords, but the built in password memory in
Firefox does that for me. I was looking more for a way to if not
prevent then greatly reduce the possibility of someone who maybe
stole my laptop to gain access to it. What would you recommend as a
reasonably effective way of doing this..? I am perfectly aware that
someone who *really* wants in will get in, but I'd like an effective
means of deterring the casual/opportunist intruder.

I remember seeing somewhere once a USB "dongle" that was supposed to
render a machine inaccessible (ok, almost..!) unless it was in a slot
on the machine. Are they any use..?
Click to expand...

Theres two things to protect here. The information on the laptop because
of its value? I'd use something like PGP disk for that, or buy something
with an easily removable hard disk and store that seperately.

Reducing the value of the laptop to discourage theft? The removable hard
disk might help here again.

Making theft difficult? Not tried the dongles, so can't offer an opinion.
I've seem some talk and a demo of an intreguing device from a company
called Caveo, though.
http://www.caveo.com/products/anti-theft.htm

rob
 
message
[snip]
Theres two things to protect here. The information on the
laptop because of its value? I'd use something like PGP
disk for that, or buy something with an easily removable
hard disk and store that seperately.
Reducing the value of the laptop to discourage theft? The
removable hard disk might help here again.
Click to expand...

It's removable, but requires unscrewing 2 screws to do it, not something
you want to be doing several times a day.
Making theft difficult? Not tried the dongles, so can't
offer an opinion. I've seem some talk and a demo of an
intreguing device from a company called Caveo, though.
http://www.caveo.com/products/anti-theft.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks, that looks very interesting..! However it's a standard PCMCIA card
and guess what, my Dell uses the ExpressCard slot format..!

Oh well another good idea gone west..!

Ivor
 
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