Paranoid Thought of the Day
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We know that around the world law enforcement agencies collect fingerprints of all those arrested for crimes. In addition, the US has been collecting ingerprints of all those who apply for any kind of visa. Am I paranoid in thinking that the fingerprint readers used in cellphones, tablets and the like send our index finger print straight to the FBI, NSA, etc.?
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Quote:
The FBI and NSA I suppose
I repeat: Who cares what the FBI and the NSA care about. I keep my nose clean. If they want to poke around in my life, let them knock themselves out. They will find nothing!
How do we preserve the wisdom men will need, when their violent passions are spent? - The Lost Horizon
This is why you should care: http://www.computerworld.com/article/2990203/security/aclu-orwellian-citizen-score-chinas-credit-score-system-is-a-warning-for-americans.html[^] It may not be the case in the West (yet), but there is an ever-present danger that it will. And then it will be too late to question it
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We know that around the world law enforcement agencies collect fingerprints of all those arrested for crimes. In addition, the US has been collecting ingerprints of all those who apply for any kind of visa. Am I paranoid in thinking that the fingerprint readers used in cellphones, tablets and the like send our index finger print straight to the FBI, NSA, etc.?
As opposed to what "they" already know (or could find out) about you from your financial transactions, online presence (facebook, linkedin, twitter, CP postings... etc.), phone records, texts, tax returns, voter registration records, school transcripts, ad infinitum. I ask you, what further erosion of privacy could having your fingerprint (or iris scan, or hand geometry, or palm print, or voice pattern, or face image) possibly amount to?
Cheers, Mike Fidler "I intend to live forever - so far, so good." Steven Wright "I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met." Also Steven Wright "I'm addicted to placebos. I could quit, but it wouldn't matter." Steven Wright yet again.
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We know that around the world law enforcement agencies collect fingerprints of all those arrested for crimes. In addition, the US has been collecting ingerprints of all those who apply for any kind of visa. Am I paranoid in thinking that the fingerprint readers used in cellphones, tablets and the like send our index finger print straight to the FBI, NSA, etc.?
Fingerprint scanners on phones and keyboards don't take very good fingerprints. they are good enough to distinguish between the phone owner and a random sample most of the time. That's all they have to do. If the NSA wants your prints, they just send the FBI (because NSA doesn't have field offices within the United States) to break into your home or car or office without a warrant and take 'em. Warrants are for wimps. They can always fake up probable cause later to get new prints for the forensic record.
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We know that around the world law enforcement agencies collect fingerprints of all those arrested for crimes. In addition, the US has been collecting ingerprints of all those who apply for any kind of visa. Am I paranoid in thinking that the fingerprint readers used in cellphones, tablets and the like send our index finger print straight to the FBI, NSA, etc.?
Better question.... Why would Apple/Google/Microsoft engage in an activity that, if discovered, would severely damage their credibility, lead to multi-million dollar lawsuits, and possibly result in some executives going to jail --- all for the benefit of some third-party organization? How would they keep the 100s is developers/QA testers/executives quiet about an obviously illegal activity? How would they keep the transmission of the data secret for the hackers and security pros carefully monitoring every package transmitted, looking for flaws?
Truth, James
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We know that around the world law enforcement agencies collect fingerprints of all those arrested for crimes. In addition, the US has been collecting ingerprints of all those who apply for any kind of visa. Am I paranoid in thinking that the fingerprint readers used in cellphones, tablets and the like send our index finger print straight to the FBI, NSA, etc.?
Even better: Hackers have already learned how to harvest your fingerprint from your cell phone or tablet if it has fingerprint recognition installed. even if you don't use it. If someone steal your password you can get another. But you can't get new fingerprints.
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GStrad wrote:
Fingerprints are far more valuable to criminals than they are to security agencies for the moment.
That is a very good point, but it is not like these large tech companies just let criminals have access to this stuff. They are even taking measures to prevent the NSA from having access to your personal data since the Prism exposure.
GStrad wrote:
With the approaches that can be used to spoof fingerprints from data how long before we start to see criminals wearing gloves with someone else's prints become common?
The likelihood of common criminals doing this anytime soon is near nil. Sure super spy agency stuff I would not doubt. But I doubt any super spy cares about getting into my devices. Although I do have a pretty shweet pron collection.
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet. The interesting thing about software is it can not reproduce, until it can.
Xaotiq wrote:
The likelihood of common criminals doing this anytime soon is near nil.
See, I think that very lack of evidence that hackers are exploiting fingerprint scans demonstrates that they are indeed not being sent to the CIA/NSA/IRS, etc. Because, you know, zero day.
Moe's Hypothesis: "If hackers have not exploited a particular set of data, that data has not been collected or used in any meaningful way."
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We know that around the world law enforcement agencies collect fingerprints of all those arrested for crimes. In addition, the US has been collecting ingerprints of all those who apply for any kind of visa. Am I paranoid in thinking that the fingerprint readers used in cellphones, tablets and the like send our index finger print straight to the FBI, NSA, etc.?
No. I work in the fingerprint sensor industry. I'm not aware of any such program. It would undermine people's faith in the integrity of the system. Plus data is usually encrypted when stored or transmitted anyways.
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Even better: Hackers have already learned how to harvest your fingerprint from your cell phone or tablet if it has fingerprint recognition installed. even if you don't use it. If someone steal your password you can get another. But you can't get new fingerprints.
BS. That Chaos Club so-called "hack" is in practical terms nonsense. Because it's completely impractical to perform the "hack" for a random person. The "hack" required physical access to the phone itself. You leave your fingerprints EVERYWHERE. I don't need to steal them off your phone if I REALLY REALLY want them. Like off the glass of your phone, for example.
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BS. That Chaos Club so-called "hack" is in practical terms nonsense. Because it's completely impractical to perform the "hack" for a random person. The "hack" required physical access to the phone itself. You leave your fingerprints EVERYWHERE. I don't need to steal them off your phone if I REALLY REALLY want them. Like off the glass of your phone, for example.
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We know that around the world law enforcement agencies collect fingerprints of all those arrested for crimes. In addition, the US has been collecting ingerprints of all those who apply for any kind of visa. Am I paranoid in thinking that the fingerprint readers used in cellphones, tablets and the like send our index finger print straight to the FBI, NSA, etc.?
Of course.... they also send them to the Illuminati, the Priori of Sion (formed by those darn Elders), the Super Saiyan and to a special account of the Guardians of the Galaxy. This all happens in real time. No wonder it takes so much time to actually log in using Touch Id. ;P
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Quote:
The FBI and NSA I suppose
I repeat: Who cares what the FBI and the NSA care about. I keep my nose clean. If they want to poke around in my life, let them knock themselves out. They will find nothing!
How do we preserve the wisdom men will need, when their violent passions are spent? - The Lost Horizon
Even if you "keep your nose clean", you probably still care. The government has made identification mistakes, just look up Brandon Mayfield and the Madrid Bombings. Do you really want something like what happened to him, to happen to you?
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
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Quote:
The FBI and NSA I suppose
I repeat: Who cares what the FBI and the NSA care about. I keep my nose clean. If they want to poke around in my life, let them knock themselves out. They will find nothing!
How do we preserve the wisdom men will need, when their violent passions are spent? - The Lost Horizon
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Felonies-Day-Target-Innocent/dp/1594035229[^] Scooter Libby had nothing to do with what he was investigated for. But he was convicted of lying to the investigators and spent time in a federal cell. The guy who actually committed the crime Scooter was investigated for - was never even questioned. Everyone is a criminal. Right now. They just have to decide if they need to convict you.
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First paranoia is a survival skill. Second techies wanting to make a fast buck could develop systems to make and customize the gloves to sell to criminals. Lastly I work for the government and evil intent is not the problem. It is the ineptitude of managers that sets us up for such major disasters as the OPM hack. Your finger prints are now in the hands of criminals and foreign agents.
Ygnaiih wrote:
Second techies wanting to make a fast buck could develop systems to make and customize the gloves to sell to criminals.
I would say you probablly do not know much about 3D printing or fingerprinting scanners then. It is most certainly not a "fast buck" technology, but hey, you seem to think paranoia is an effective survival skill. Bare in mind, paranoia can also get you killed. Simple kids cartoon example... Ever watch the Croods?
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet. The interesting thing about software is it can not reproduce, until it can.
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Having worked for a company that used the fingerprint technology in its security system, I managed a look under the hood, so to speak. For the technology to work, a live finger with a blood flow is required. The readers measure the blood flow pattern just under the surface of the skin as masked by the spirals and whorls in your print. A 3D copy of your finger just isn't up to the job. Besides, if you are concerned about using a cell phone with fingerprint security, get something else.
The difficult may take time, the impossible a little longer.
Member 10707677 wrote:
For the technology to work, a live finger with a blood flow is required. The readers measure the blood flow pattern just under the surface of the skin as masked by the spirals and whorls in your print. A 3D copy of your finger just isn't up to the job.
Yes I know that. But let the paranoid have their day ;P
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet. The interesting thing about software is it can not reproduce, until it can.
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Ygnaiih wrote:
Second techies wanting to make a fast buck could develop systems to make and customize the gloves to sell to criminals.
I would say you probablly do not know much about 3D printing or fingerprinting scanners then. It is most certainly not a "fast buck" technology, but hey, you seem to think paranoia is an effective survival skill. Bare in mind, paranoia can also get you killed. Simple kids cartoon example... Ever watch the Croods?
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet. The interesting thing about software is it can not reproduce, until it can.
25 years of federal law enforcement made me understand that if you think someone is out to get you, you are more often right than wrong. I have next to no knowledge of 3D printing. I will be very surprised though if someone doesn't do a finger print hack soon.
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25 years of federal law enforcement made me understand that if you think someone is out to get you, you are more often right than wrong. I have next to no knowledge of 3D printing. I will be very surprised though if someone doesn't do a finger print hack soon.
Ygnaiih wrote:
I have next to no knowledge of 3D printing. I will be very surprised though if someone doesn't do a finger print hack soon.
It really isn't possible. That is simply not how the readers work. Similarly you can not place a picture of an eyeball in front of a retinal scanner. It also seems the modern facial recognition systems (such as those Windows Hello use), can not be spoofed with a simple picture. The sensors are not as simple as capturing an image. There are in fact multiple sensors that take bio-metric readings to prove life and also compare it to the data store (not just the raw image of identification, finger, eye, face etc.) Simply put, it is not spoof-able with a 3D print. That does not mean it is NOT spoofable, as I stated earlier. But the technology required far exceeds what any reasonable person comes by. Thus, it is inconceivable that a common person even need to worry about it. If perhaps you become the CEO of a multi billion dollar company or you take up arms and start a dictatorship then you may have concern. Else, I really doubt it. Sure there may be people out to get you. Me thinks they will use old school methods of digging through your trash to steal any stuff from you that can get your identity.
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet. The interesting thing about software is it can not reproduce, until it can.
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Xaotiq wrote:
The likelihood of common criminals doing this anytime soon is near nil.
See, I think that very lack of evidence that hackers are exploiting fingerprint scans demonstrates that they are indeed not being sent to the CIA/NSA/IRS, etc. Because, you know, zero day.
Moe's Hypothesis: "If hackers have not exploited a particular set of data, that data has not been collected or used in any meaningful way."
WildlingCoder wrote:
See, I think that very lack of evidence that hackers are exploiting fingerprint scans demonstrates that they are indeed not being sent to the CIA/NSA/IRS, etc. Because, you know, zero day.
Not a religious man, but there is a simple saying to counter it, ironically to play devil's advocate.
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The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
In other words, maybe a hacker is that is so good that they leave no trail. Just because it is not known a system was hacked does not mean it was not hacked. In fact, I usually lean the opposite in the logic and deduce that once we know about a system being hacked we can deduce it was probably already hacked, its just now the amateurs are following the professional's lead. The amateurs are careless and sloppy. They get caught or leave the door open and then everyone knows it happened. Professional's go in like ninjas and get what they want and are in and out with no one even thinking there was an incident.
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet. The interesting thing about software is it can not reproduce, until it can.
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We know that around the world law enforcement agencies collect fingerprints of all those arrested for crimes. In addition, the US has been collecting ingerprints of all those who apply for any kind of visa. Am I paranoid in thinking that the fingerprint readers used in cellphones, tablets and the like send our index finger print straight to the FBI, NSA, etc.?