An even simpler answer is that, for the most part, biometric devices look cool and get investors and potential customers all moist, but really aren't very good security solutions at all. But yes, I have implemented or seen implemented a few different biometric devices that verify animation of the identifying anatomy. However, as I'm sure you can imagine, that doesn't really make things any better. And after standing in a chilly mantrap for a while with one needle in your arm, another in your hand, and a band around your wrist, you start to think that passwords are pretty neat technology. -----Original Message----- From: R. A. Hettinga [mailto:rah@shipwright.com] Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 9:10 AM To: Jonathan Wienke; cypherpunks@cyberpass.net Subject: RE: At 3:00 AM -0800 on 12/9/00, Jonathan Wienke wrote:
Hasn't any seen the movie 6th Day? Who needs a password when you can borrow the necessary biometric token from its owner if you have a hatchet or decent knife?
The simple answer is that most decent fingerprint readers require a living thumb, either through simple body-heat or, if I remember correctly, bioelectrical measurement. Cheers, RAH -- ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah@ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'