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Biometrics don't have to be secret to be useful -- my home country has national ID cards with embedded fingerprint data, and certain transactions are required by law to have you physically present yourself and verify your identity with a fingerprint reader that checks it against your card's info.

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Fingerprints are real easy to forge with super glue, a digital camera with telephoto lens, a printer, and elmer's glue (1)

1. https://www.ccc.de/en/updates/2014/ursel

This may be true, but its even easier with the SSN where you just give them the number and that's it. Because the fingerprint scan isn't perfect doesn't mean it isn't better (much better).

Does an authority always inspects everyone's fingers to make sure nobody is wearing a gelatin pad, or is it a facility which has a rather expensive machine that does a lot of extra anti-spoofing tests?

In general, the common situations some people wish they could use biometrics--like a grocery store payment--are also ones where it won't actually be that secure. After someone goes on a shopping-spree with your stolen fingerprint, you can't really change it.

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