Hacker News Reader

Comment by konfusinomicon | Hacker News Reader

the scene early in Demolition Man where Wesley Snipes takes advantage of the most critical flaw in biometric security has always made me shy away from it. if someone is motivated enough, removal of the unlocking body part is all to easy so I'll stick with pass codes or patterns

View on HN

Removing a body part is also an effective way to get a pass code or pattern. If someone is willing to do you great harm to unlock your phone, I don't think it matters much what locking method you use.

People without safety and security awareness often underestimate a) time, b) the neccessary criminal energy, c) opportunity, and d) logistics (e. g. seclusion, tools).

But when one has technology that works for the attacker by conveniently elimininating the mentioned problems almost completely, than your set of security features is just a pathetic lie... as well as a self-delusion.

Which, to be honest, a lot of safety and security measures and technology are to most people. ;)

The jurisdictions where a cop will with force put your finger to the fingerprint reader, but won't beat the keys out of you cover most of the first and parts of the second world.

And if you are not in one of those countries just politely ask for a blank white sheet of paper to sign and let them fill the rest. You will save everyone some time.

boy messed with the law and done got the keys beat out of him

I would not necessarily trust that. Had an army coworker who regularly beat information out with rubber hoses where he was stationed. Sort of the evil version of don’t ask don’t tell.

Well, that, and in the USA at least the government are constitutionally allowed to use whatever force necessary to put your finger onto the reader, or your face in front of the scanner.

SInce I prefer to keep my fingers than my secrets, I do not care too much about this issue: I would give every password if threatened. However I don't want my fingerprint and my face features to be stored somewhere

> motivated enough

https://xkcd.com/538/

Don't they actually detect pulse nowadays? Or is it facial micromovements for faceid?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com