That Fingerprint Sensor on Your Phone Is Not as Safe as You Think

The New York Times ^ | April 10, 2017 | By VINDU GOEL

[Swordmaker]

That said, I have an iPhone5 without fingerprint sensor, and if I get a version with the sensor, I’m not going to use it. I don’t trust such a sensor to always recognize my fingerprint in an emergency, which is the reverse problem. :-)

The phone can always be unlocked with the passcode. The "fingerprint" is merely a convenience (or to use with ApplePay) for quick access. The option to use the passcode is not locked out if you activate the TouchID. I have found that the TouchID is only finicky when the temperatures of my fingers are too cold, or my fingers are wet. Otherwise, it is 100% responsive. I have three fingers coded to unlock my devices and they all work, but the uncoded fingers will not.

On the other hand, a friend had a Motorola with a fingerprint reader and it was only about 30% reliable in reading her fingerprint. . . that phone required you swiped your finger along a reader of some kind as I recall and she was always swiping multiple times until it would finally unlock. Funny thing was, although my finger was not programed in, it would also unlock to my finger after about four or five swipes. LOL!

[Swordmaker]

Another thought is that the 6 digit code on an iPhone lends itself to using one’s own birthday... it’s a better strategy to use a sibling or parent’s birthday. At least make big brother work for it.

Good point . . . however I do use a birthday, but it's not mine. . . and good luck on figuring out the right birthday and trying it before yout lock and/or erase the data. It's not a family member.

[Covenantor]

Grace Hopper’s birthday?

;>)

[dayglored]

> The option to use the passcode is not locked out if you activate the TouchID.

Problem solved, thanks!

[Vendome]

Yeah, I read that as well.

I feel you should have an actual password to access your phone and encrypt any files from prying eyes with an additional pass.

When traveling I offload stuff I don’t others to see and wipe the empty space so there is no way to access those files.

I also uninstall my browsers before boarding a plane and reinstall to ensure my history is gone.

My thing....

[IncPen]

and good luck on figuring out the right birthday and trying it before yout lock and/or erase the data. It's not a family member.

We're so cute with our encryption and thumb-the-nose safekeeping of our digital secrets.

Yesterday's ejection of the passenger from the United jet for believing he was entitled to the seat he'd paid for is all the proof we need.

It's increasingly clear that the jack booted thugs will simply stomp us into submission to gain access to whatever they need from our lives...