Has anyone here had success with USB fingerprint scanners? I also found this Microsoft keyboard with fingerprint reader but I don’t know if it works with linux.
Here’s the list of devices supported by fprint
For non -standalone readers, you’ll have to look up the actual fingerprint reader embedded within it.
Edit: it looks like this is a Bluetooth keyboard. My guess is it’s highly unlikely to work with Linux as a fingerprint reader.
I use the DigitalPersona 4500 with libfprint. Unfortunately, there are multiple revisions of the device with the same model number and only some of them work properly under Linux (different encryption method I believe). As far as I know this is not actually documented anywhere. Googling just shows a bunch of unresolved bug reports of people having no idea why it doesn’t work.
Almost every one of the fingerprint sensors in laptops are not supported by Linux due to proprietary protocols. Never managed to get stuff used by Dell or HP with Linux.
But the Grow R503 can be used over uart, what can be connected to usb with some minor additional parts.
I recently got a Dell Latitude 14 2-in-1 with the AMD 8840U, Put on the latest Fedora Kinoite and the fingerprint reader works FYI.
Biometrics, huh? You know- passwords are more secure…
For simple PC unlocking etc. they are perfectly fine and improve security due to their far higher usability.
The same way 10 key files on 10 different locations combined with this and that are more secure than a simple 60 character password. But the simple password is far more practical, so far more secure overall since people actually use it.
For most people, the only security they really need is against people either stealing devices or accessing them without permission. In those cases, biometrics (if implemented properly) and passwords are roughly equivalent.
More secure legally. You generally can’t be compelled to disclose a password that incriminates you (unless it’s already apparent that you’re guilty of wrong-doing) but a thing (physical key, fingerprint, etc) isn’t protected in the same way and can be demanded by the court.
Whether biometric are secure or not is another question, they can be stolen like any other data or a motivated attacker could just take you or your fingers.
