Librebooted Thinkpad and fingerprint reader

2 replies [Last post]
vita_cell
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Joined: 07/19/2015

Hi, it is a good idea to install libpam-fprintd to enable that devise? how secure it is? it is useful? Will the computer send my fingerprint to NSA or something else?

Magic Banana

I am a member!

I am a translator!

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Joined: 07/24/2010

If software in Trisquel's repository would send things to the NSA, it would certainly be known: all software in Trisquel's repository is free software. In particular, anybody can study its source code.

Now you might actually worry about an hypothetical firmware that would run in the fingerprint reader and act as spyware. Well, it is possible...

lembas
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Joined: 05/13/2010

It might be fooled by an image of your fingerprint, say taken from a glass at the bar. You can try this yourself. Or then somebody might just cut off your finger or physically force you to open it. Of course the latter goes for all access methods... I personally think fingerprint scanners are cute toys but would never use one to lock anything even remotely sensible.