Can any recommend a fingerprint reader?
Can any recommend a fingerprint reader?
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Mr Pointy

Original Poster:

12,560 posts

175 months

Monday 28th October 2024
quotequote all
With the increasing use of passkeys I'm looking at adding a fingerprint reader to my PC but the reviews of the plug in USB types on Amazon are a bit variable. They seem to start off ok but then there are plenty of comments about them crapping out after a couple of months.

Anyone have one they can recommend?

cobra kid

5,380 posts

256 months

Tuesday 29th October 2024
quotequote all
I've absolutely no idea on this, but do you have a phone with one? Is there some form of app for using it in conjunction with a PC??

Just thinking laterally....

Mr Pointy

Original Poster:

12,560 posts

175 months

Tuesday 29th October 2024
quotequote all
cobra kid said:
I've absolutely no idea on this, but do you have a phone with one? Is there some form of app for using it in conjunction with a PC??

Just thinking laterally....
Possibly but I was looking at a standalone item so that i didn't have to rely on another device - one of the sites we work at has no mobile service at all.

BoRED S2upid

20,739 posts

256 months

Tuesday 29th October 2024
quotequote all
cobra kid said:
I've absolutely no idea on this, but do you have a phone with one? Is there some form of app for using it in conjunction with a PC??

Just thinking laterally....
Plenty of apps out there to give you two stage authentication with fingerprint/face/passcode on your phone.



Herbs

4,986 posts

245 months

Tuesday 29th October 2024
quotequote all
Yubico could work

e-honda

9,493 posts

162 months

Wednesday 30th October 2024
quotequote all
Dare I ask what you are actually trying to achieve with finger print scanner for passkeys ?

Finger print authentication is typically about convenience. It has some advantages but some short comings as well which make it often overall no more secure than a 5 or 6 digit pin.
If you've got a built in scanner that seems reasonable to use it because it's quicker and easier than typing a pin, but if you are having to get out an external device and plug it in you are no longer really getting the convivence benefit so what's the point?

cobra kid

5,380 posts

256 months

Wednesday 30th October 2024
quotequote all
Mr Pointy said:
Possibly but I was looking at a standalone item so that i didn't have to rely on another device - one of the sites we work at has no mobile service at all.
So you want to buy another device but don't want to rely on another device?

Mr Pointy

Original Poster:

12,560 posts

175 months

Wednesday 30th October 2024
quotequote all
e-honda said:
Dare I ask what you are actually trying to achieve with finger print scanner for passkeys ?

Finger print authentication is typically about convenience. It has some advantages but some short comings as well which make it often overall no more secure than a 5 or 6 digit pin.
If you've got a built in scanner that seems reasonable to use it because it's quicker and easier than typing a pin, but if you are having to get out an external device and plug it in you are no longer really getting the convivence benefit so what's the point?
For a start I'd want use it with my desktop PC to avoid having to enter a 19 digit password to unlock my Bitwarden vault - every time a browser restarts the vault is locked. Security in that case isn't a massive issue as no-one has access to my pc, unless they break in. I could also use it with my laptop when on site but I agree that's more of a security issue.

Mr Pointy

Original Poster:

12,560 posts

175 months

Wednesday 30th October 2024
quotequote all
Herbs said:
Yubico could work
Yes, I have had one for years & it's linked to Bitwarden but I would need to buy another USB C or NFC type to use it with other devices. I also found that it didn't work if I was RDPing into another PC which was a nuisance.

I may go that way but I was just wondering if dropping £25 on an a Amazon reader was worthwhile or if it was going to end up as a brick in a month or so.

Mr Pointy

Original Poster:

12,560 posts

175 months

Wednesday 30th October 2024
quotequote all
cobra kid said:
Mr Pointy said:
Possibly but I was looking at a standalone item so that i didn't have to rely on another device - one of the sites we work at has no mobile service at all.
So you want to buy another device but don't want to rely on another device?
So you can't work out the difference between a small permanently plugged in reader & a phone which may have no mobile or wi-fi reception?

Thanks for your valuable contribution to the forum.

e-honda

9,493 posts

162 months

Wednesday 30th October 2024
quotequote all
Mr Pointy said:
For a start I'd want use it with my desktop PC to avoid having to enter a 19 digit password to unlock my Bitwarden vault - every time a browser restarts the vault is locked. Security in that case isn't a massive issue as no-one has access to my pc, unless they break in. I could also use it with my laptop when on site but I agree that's more of a security issue.
You understand that you can do that with bit warden right now with a 6 digit pin and be just as secure if not more so and only slightly less convenient?

Mr Pointy

Original Poster:

12,560 posts

175 months

Wednesday 30th October 2024
quotequote all
e-honda said:
Mr Pointy said:
For a start I'd want use it with my desktop PC to avoid having to enter a 19 digit password to unlock my Bitwarden vault - every time a browser restarts the vault is locked. Security in that case isn't a massive issue as no-one has access to my pc, unless they break in. I could also use it with my laptop when on site but I agree that's more of a security issue.
You understand that you can do that with bit warden right now with a 6 digit pin and be just as secure if not more so and only slightly less convenient?
No, but I'm happy to have it mansplained (or shelaborated depending on gender) to me. I'm just wary about the security of the Bitwarden vault.

camel_landy

5,225 posts

199 months

Wednesday 30th October 2024
quotequote all
Mr Pointy said:
No, but I'm happy to have it mansplained (or shelaborated depending on gender) to me. I'm just wary about the security of the Bitwarden vault.
Don't go over thinking it... The BitWarden PIN is simply there to prevent someone gaining access should you leave your laptop unlocked. This type of access would be more opportunist and I doubt would be a 'Nation State' actor.

Once at rest, BitWarden would effectively be secured behind BitLocker (assuming it's enabled), a Windows password and then the BitWarden PIN. Someone would need to be pretty determined to want to get through that lot.

M

cobra kid

5,380 posts

256 months

Wednesday 30th October 2024
quotequote all
Mr Pointy said:
cobra kid said:
Mr Pointy said:
Possibly but I was looking at a standalone item so that i didn't have to rely on another device - one of the sites we work at has no mobile service at all.
So you want to buy another device but don't want to rely on another device?
So you can't work out the difference between a small permanently plugged in reader & a phone which may have no mobile or wi-fi reception?

Thanks for your valuable contribution to the forum.
Bluetooth??? A cable which you will need anyway???? It'll be another device however you do it.

Get fked in future.