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Idea #5937: Use fingerprint reader to fill in password fields

bug This idea is a duplicate of Idea #2: Fingerprint readers integration.
Written by dominik.mayer the 28 Mar 08 at 15:42. Category: System. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
I would like to see the possibility of filling in password fields (e.g. in Firefox) with the fingerprint reader. The user would save the passwords for the different sites somewhere and if he uses the fingerprint reader the password would be entered.

To avoid security risks (the user swipes his finger while the cursor is in a normal text field and someone standing next to him can read the password in plain text) the daemon could try to recognize the type of field the cursor is in.

Another possibility would be to just enter the password while another button is pressed, e.g. Ctrl + swipe. I doubt this happens accidently. The idea could perhaps be realized with the help of a Firefox add-on.
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #5937
Written by dominik.mayer the 28 Mar 08 at 15:42.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #5937 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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DStrohma wrote on the 29 Mar 08 at 00:19
they are just too easy to pass... there things are not really secure!! look at the CCC homepage for more details about this topic.

_sebastian_ wrote on the 29 Mar 08 at 08:08
I think there is a firefox add-on written by a company... don't remember the name though. this might not work under linux/ubuntu

yes fingerprint readers are not the safest, so are many user/root passwords out there. I think for a "ubuntu/linux beginner/switcher" user a proper fingerprint support might bring some safety improvement compared to the "dogsname"password...

A combination would do for me ...fingerprint+pw

dominik.mayer wrote on the 29 Mar 08 at 09:16
Of course it's not the most secure way and probably not the first choice for everyone. And it's important that it's just a choice not a default setting. But many people already save their passwords in Firefox and that's even less secure.

oblique63 wrote on the 29 Mar 08 at 09:29
I don't know about the security of this method, but it's definitely more convenient than typing in usernames/passwords over and over if a person chooses not to store them in firefox for some reason...

also, it'd be nicer if it wasn't done as a firefox plugin, because I not everyone is going to be using the same browser. Despite the greatness of firefox, even I like to have a few backup browsers just in case, like opera, Kazehakase, and konqueror, so by making it as an exclusive firefox feature, thats not going to be too great to the users who want that feature but prefer other browsers...

dominik.mayer wrote on the 29 Mar 08 at 09:40
I totally agree. I think the best thing would be if this method was available for many programs. Firefox is just an example and because I don't know how this could be done otherwise I thought that an add-on might help. The idea is not only about Firefox.

dominik.mayer wrote on the 29 Mar 08 at 14:16
Who marked this as a duplicate?? The idea it should be based on doesn't even deal with applications, only with the GDM.

Groening wrote on the 6 Jul 08 at 21:38
@ _sebastian_: not sure if you were speaking of that particular addon already existing called: fingerfox

Sadly it needs MS .Net Framwork right from the beginning so I don't expect much linux support from its developers...

I agree - complete gnome suport would be nice as all of us spend a lot of time for authentifications...

whether its GDM/gksudo, pidgin, skype, entering master passwords for thunderbird, firefox or single authentifications during login on particular pages in the web...

perhaps even authentification in the terminal for a mysql / postgresql connection

just image life if the progress of the last years concerning system wide key rings (i.e. in nautilus for ftp,ssh, etc..) carries on and would support simple fingerprint authentification for everything!

WOW - what a picture ;-)

but this seems to be a bit too big for one step so why not stick with a firefox addon to keep track off later?


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