fingerprint ID not so secure

[jdonovan]

A Circuit Court judge has ruled that a criminal defendant can be compelled to give up his fingerprint, but not his pass code, to allow police to open and search his cellphone.

http://pilotonline.com/news/local/crime ... 50168.html

I would assume this would extend to any fingerprint secured device, like a computer, a safe etc. So those of you who use fingerprint ID, may want to consider the implications in Virginia, now that we have a precedent.

Seems bio-metrics are good at stopping thieves, unless they wear badges.

[MarcSpaz]

I use a 15 character pass code and my entire device is encrypted. Bio-metrics have been proven too weak and unreliable.

[Rualert]

I use a 15 character pass code and my entire device is encrypted. Bio-metrics have been proven too weak and unreliable.

This and as one who work in the Computer Security arena I can verify it's way too easy to bypass finger print /bio metric security controls. The guy that runs the physical security in our "secured" building just shakes his head every time one of my team or myself come to tell him we bypassed another bio metric security device. Marc is also correct on using at least a 15 character password, or pass phrase to help slow down brute force attacks.