I am getting a new cell phone. It has the option of signing in with a fingerprint. I understand it would be faster. Are there other advantages? Any disadvantages?
Yeah, the disadvantage is that it doesn’t work. I have this feature turned off on both my Samsung Galaxy S6, and my Ipad. When I first register my fingerprint, it works, but its ability to recognize my fingerprint somehow decays over a few days, so that I have to re-register it.
Works pretty well for me - (iPhone 6).
I LOVE it for Apple Pay, and for signing into my BofA and 1Password accounts.
Works great on my Nexus 6P. It’s mostly that it’s faster and more convenient. It’s easy to get into the habit of sticking your finger on the reader when you pick up your phone, so it’s unlocked by the time you’re looking at it. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a nice little convenience.
Of course, there’s some gray area stuff from a legal standpoint. Could be that it can make it easier for law enforcement to unlock and search your phone.
What if you encounter a ruthless mugger? Not only will he take away your phone, he may also cut off one of your fingers to gain access to the device.
That story is from 2014, and says there are plans to appeal. Are there any legal updates on this?
Has this ever happened?
And why exactly would a mugger need access to your phone??
If it gets hacked, then the hackers have your fingerprint, yes?
I don’t know, probably not. But I do recall reading about such a scenario in an IT-security related context.
Well, obviously people do use their smartphones these days for all sorts of (financial) transactions and for storing personal data, very much like personal computers. It might not be your typical, random street mugger, though.
Yeah, and if it’s the Yakuza who are after your phone, and you have a passcode on it, you think they are just going to say “OK,” and leave you alone, or are they going to beat it out of you?
No, fingerprint ID is the way to go.
Works fine on my Galaxy S6. I think the important thing is to hold the phone the same way when you register your fingerprint & when you unlock it every time. This makes sure the same part of your thumb gets scanned. The sensor is fairly small.
The downside is it doesn’t work with gloves on.
That’s exactly the reason why I don’t use a smartphone.
Yeah, and I store my money in a tin can buried in the backyard…
At some point you need to look at the risk/reward curve. Do you use a credit card? That transaction is much less secure than something like Apple Pay.
Do you purchase items over the Internet?
Actually, do you have a wallet?
I have a Nexus 5x and the fingerprint sensor works very well. It is very convenient to be able to pick up the phone and have it turn on and sign in. The Nexus takes several different samples of your fingerprint so you don’t have to be careful to hold it the same way each time.
Heh. Unless you wear gloves when you use your smartphone, no one has to hack your phone to get your fingerprints. They’re all over the screen!
Absolutely true, although the riskiness of credit card transactions isn’t really relevant to me, since I don’t bear the risk.
It’s a small convenience. It makes a locked phone feel more like an unlocked phone-- by the time it gets to your face, it’s ready to use. It also makes it easier to sign on to some apps.
Not a lifechanger by any means, but it is nice to have.
It’s useful enough to prevent your observant kids from memorizing your PIN.
Credit card: yes, there is always the option of cancelling a payment
Yes, all the time. I use my home pc and I consider it safe. I haven’t been inside a bank in 10, maybe 15 years.
No wallet as of recently.