Is fingerprint reader really worth it?

[Jungsta]

Especially considering that you can have your web-browser, as well as most email, AIM, and any other application memorize your passwords?

[Plinkerton]

I have been thinking the same way as you, and I never thought it was that big a deal.

It was explained to me though, that in certain business settings, people often change their passwords weekly, for optimal security. If they are changing their passwords all the time, after a few months of that, it can become a bit of a problem remembering all those different passwords.

With that in mind, I can see how the fingerprint scanner would be very helpful. To me though, it would be nothing more than a "cool factor".

So, I think to some it's worth it for a practical application. For others, it's just cool.

HP just released a PDA with a biometric scanner. I guess it's catching on.

[WilsonF]

With WinXP security alone, even with encrypting file system operating, commercially available software allows anyone with physical custody of your laptop to boot from a CD, create a new admin account, change all passwords, and obtain access to any of the files on your laptop. The IBM security is worthwhile; the fingerprint reader is a nice (and not very expensive) add-on.

[Leon]

but if you set the BIOS based mobo and drive passwords.....?

[arion]

So many people use bad passwords and some even put there passwords on a postit note on the monitor.

Biometrics is the only real way to get security. It is easy for someone to steal a smartcard, ID, password but it is hard to steal a persons fingerprint.

But if someone has physical access to a machine they can get into no matter what unless the Hard drive (or other storage medium used eg PDA, phones etc) is hardware encryted.

[beeblebrox]

Well, our CIO says:
change your logon passwords every 3 weeks, using Upper/lower case, min. 6 letters and additional numbers. Do not write down the password and don't let your PC unlocked in the office or in open spaces.

Go figure: CIO got swamped with phone calls of hundreds of employes who after a few months got completely lost in their password set-ups and asked CIO to unlock their notebooks.

Now you can have the fingerprint sensor, use 256-letter passwords that change automatically every 3 weeks and have passwords ready for every different login.

what a relieve!