iPhone 5S, 5C Announced

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

I've already heard the fingerprint scanner referred to as giving the NSA a signed confession .

I have no idea what you mean.

NSA Delighted by People Voluntarily Giving
Their Fingerprints to Computers

[Mivo]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

NSA Delighted by People Voluntarily Giving
Their Fingerprints to Computers

“It would be useful if Samsung could develop a nice mobile friendly DNA scanner, that would really complete the set.”

Brilliant!

[elcreative]

Trouble is some people are unaware of the meaning of "spoof & satire" and articles like this are being taken as factual...

[tubemonkey]

[David Munch]

The fingerprint scanner in the new iPhone, does not scan your fingerprint as such, only specific markers in your print. Ie. it is really useless, unless you use the same-ish software to decode it.
Also, it is never sent from the phone, so there's no external database of these things - Including NSA, which has to hack your phone specifically, in order to get it.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Does this mean no new iPods this year?

Apple doesn't always announce new iPhones and iPods together, so keep up the hope.. But I assume you are right, in that we won't see more changes for the short future.

[doctorow]

Originally Posted by David Munch

Also, it is never sent from the phone, so there's no external database of these things - Including NSA, which has to hack your phone specifically, in order to get it.

Unless something is installed on your device (malware, ...) that can access the internal database. Then the possibilities are endless.

Darn, where did I leave my tin foil hat again?

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by doctorow

Unless something is installed on your device (malware, ...) that can access the internal database. Then the possibilities are endless.

Darn, where did I leave my tin foil hat again?

But this is no different from with passwords.

[Graham]

OK, this is the bit I don't understand:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/p...ensor/2797471/

Passcodes and the "slide to unlock" options will remain as backups if, for example, you're wearing gloves and can't access Touch ID.

Surely that means that the fingerprint technology doesn't make the phone any more secure, since it can still be unlocked by the other methods?

Graham

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by David Munch

The fingerprint scanner in the new iPhone, does not scan your fingerprint as such, only specific markers in your print. Ie. it is really useless, unless you use the same-ish software to decode it.

As someone mentioned earlier, our comments about the fingerprint scanner have not been entirely serious.

[holymadness]

Originally Posted by Graham

OK, this is the bit I don't understand:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/p...ensor/2797471/



Surely that means that the fingerprint technology doesn't make the phone any more secure, since it can still be unlocked by the other methods?

Graham

It's not an additional layer of security, it's an easier and faster means of unlocking your phone. Apparently, over half of all iPhone users don't use a passcode. Presumably, at least some choose not to because it's too cumbersome to type it in every time they want to check something.

It's primarily about convenience.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by holymadness

It's not an additional layer of security, it's an easier and faster means of unlocking your phone. Apparently, over half of all iPhone users don't use a passcode. Presumably, at least some choose not to because it's too cumbersome to type it in every time they want to check something.

It's primarily about convenience.

OK, that makes sense. It would be more secure if people started using it who were leaving their phones open before.

Graham

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by Graham

OK, that makes sense. It would be more secure if people started using it who were leaving their phones open before.

Graham

But winter is coming and people are going to use gloves again.

[jbjb]

Originally Posted by Graham

OK, this is the bit I don't understand:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/p...ensor/2797471/



Surely that means that the fingerprint technology doesn't make the phone any more secure, since it can still be unlocked by the other methods?

Graham

It can increase security in that it allows you to choose a longer, more secure pass code without suffering the inconvenience of having to enter it every time you use the phone.

Consider the guidelines on length & variety that are generally applied to passwords - not many people follow those for phone pass codes as it would be just too painful. The fingerprint scanner avoids this issue.

/JB

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by David Munch

The fingerprint scanner in the new iPhone, does not scan your fingerprint as such, only specific markers in your print. Ie. it is really useless, unless you use the same-ish software to decode it.
Also, it is never sent from the phone, so there's no external database of these things - Including NSA, which has to hack your phone specifically, in order to get it.

According to this, the iPhone's fingerprint scanner scans fingerprints in more detail than the traditional method, not less.

Put your finger on the capaciative scanner and the ridges will cause some plates to come into contact, thereby closing a circuit and generating current, while the cells under the ridges on your fingers remain separate. The system then interprets the voltages generated by each cell to determine which one is under a ridge and which is under a valley. By combining this data the scanner can generate an overall image of the print, much as an EO scanner would, but with a much higher degree of fidelity.

Originally Posted by jbjb

It can increase security in that it allows you to choose a longer, more secure pass code without suffering the inconvenience of having to enter it every time you use the phone.

Consider the guidelines on length & variety that are generally applied to passwords - not many people follow those for phone pass codes as it would be just too painful. The fingerprint scanner avoids this issue.

This scanner gives the security that a child can bypass:


And it's great coupled with this:

The scanner can also be used to let people buy things from the iTunes store and App store without needing to enter a password.

[elemenoP]

I only remember the passwords I have to type every day. The ones I have to type occasionally, I forget. So this sounds like a good way to forget my passcode. What happens if the thumbprint scanner doesn't work AND you don't know your passcode? I presume the Apple Store will have a method to reset it? (I don't know what happens if you forget your unlock passcode now.) What happens now to a stolen phone with a passcode on it? Presumably there is a way for thieves to unlock and reset it? I just wonder if the fingerprint scanner will make the new iPhone any less attractive to thieves. I live in NYC where iPhone grabbing is a problem.

eP