update HONG KONG--Siemens has a solution for people who constantly forget computer passwords: a mouse that recognizes fingerprints. Called the ID Mouse, the device uses biometrics to take advantage of the unique features of people's fingerprints. German electronics maker Siemens, which showed off the ID Mouse this week at the ITU Asia Telecom 2000 fair, said the device works by allowing pre-authorized people to retrieve information from their PCs or laptops. By lightly tapping the fingertip sensor located at the top of the mouse, the device verifies the fingerprint against reference templates already input into the PC's system. Once a fingerprint is authenticated, the person can then access the PC's main operating system. Siemens is one of numerous companies headed in the direction of using unique features for identification. The mouse is powered by 65,000 sensing elements on the 0.25 square-inch fingertip chip that enables the device to scan and capture the fine details of a fingerprint. The system is so sensitive that it will recognize an authorized person even if there is a cut on the fingertip. For added security, if the mouse user takes a break, the screensaver is activated until the person touches the ID Mouse again. Other than that, the ID Mouse operates just like any Microsoft mouse. It has a wheel scroll for navigation and requires at least Microsoft Windows 98 and a USB connection. This week's conference is the International Telecommunications Union's 23rd telecom show since its 1971 debut in Geneva. The six-day fair, which ends Saturday, took place in Hong Kong this year and was expected to attract at least 50,000 visitors from more than 50 countries. Singapore.CNET.com's Priscilla Wong reported from Hong Kong.
On Fri, 8 Dec 2000, Anonymous wrote:
update HONG KONG--Siemens has a solution for people who constantly forget computer passwords: a mouse that recognizes fingerprints.
By lightly tapping the fingertip sensor located at the top of the mouse, the device verifies the fingerprint against reference templates already input into the PC's system. Once a fingerprint is authenticated, the person can then access the PC's main operating system.
Oh, right. And nobody could *possibly* dust it for fingerprints, etch a fingerprint into a rubber pad, and tap the rubber pad on the sensor. That might take what, a whole hour? Plus all the replay attacks, the possibility of induction monitoring on the mouse cable, software that captures the digitized fingerprint from the serial buffer, software that replaces the file that the fingerprint data is kept in, etc... My biggest problem with this is that people using it will *think* their data is secure. Bear
At 12:30 AM -0800 12/9/00, Ray Dillinger wrote:
On Fri, 8 Dec 2000, Anonymous wrote:
update HONG KONG--Siemens has a solution for people who constantly forget computer passwords: a mouse that recognizes fingerprints.
By lightly tapping the fingertip sensor located at the top of the mouse, the device verifies the fingerprint against reference templates already input into the PC's system. Once a fingerprint is authenticated, the person can then access the PC's main operating system.
Oh, right. And nobody could *possibly* dust it for fingerprints, etch a fingerprint into a rubber pad, and tap the rubber pad on the sensor. That might take what, a whole hour?
Less, for a black bag agent. And black bag entries are becoming a standard, court-authorized measure. I wonder how long before a court-authorized measure will be simply mugging a target and cutting off his ID finger. When government adopts the MO of the thief, all things are possible. --Tim May -- (This .sig file has not been significantly changed since 1992. As the election debacle unfolds, it is time to prepare a new one. Stay tuned.)
update HONG KONG--Siemens has a solution for people who constantly forget computer passwords: a mouse that recognizes fingerprints. [...] 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?
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'
On Sat, Dec 09, 2000 at 03:00:47AM -0800, 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?
I taped a CSPAN show about two years ago before a bunch of high school kids who were in DC for the week. The subject of fingerprint access to bank ATMs came up and I mentioned the lop-off-one-digit scenario. They were appropriately horrified, and I don't think the moderator enjoyed it much either... -Declan
Tim May wrote:
I wonder how long before a court-authorized measure will be simply mugging a target and cutting off his ID finger.
When government adopts the MO of the thief, all things are possible.
What? You mean they haven't already? :) -- ----------------------Kaos-Keraunos-Kybernetos--------------------------- + ^ + :Surveillance cameras|Passwords are like underwear. You don't /|\ \|/ :aren't security. A |share them, you don't hang them on your/\|/\ <--*-->:camera won't stop a |monitor, or under your keyboard, you \/|\/ /|\ :masked killer, but |don't email them, or put them on a web \|/ + v + :will violate privacy|site, and you must change them very often. --------_sunder_@_sunder_._net_------- http://www.sunder.net ------------
participants (7)
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Anonymous -
Declan McCullagh -
Jonathan Wienke -
R. A. Hettinga -
Ray Dillinger -
sunder -
Tim May