Posted on 09/14/2013 12:43:55 PM PDT by quimby
Considering the nationwide panic regarding security and privacy, both offline and online, Apple’s new Touch ID system was met with some cynicism. Where is the fingerprint data going to be stored? What happens if someone obtains the data? Would a criminal be willing to remove my finger in order to access my contact list? Some concerns were admittedly a bit more hypothetical than others, but Marcia Hofmann’s piece on Wired brings up a legal situation which is far more likely to cause problems for an iPhone owner than the theoretical digit thief.
The Fifth Amendment provides the right against self-incrimination in a court of law. A judge may not require the defendant to incriminate him or herself with any information that is testimonial, or as Hofmann puts it, “reveals the contents of your mind.” That would include, say, the four-digit code to unlock your iPhone 5, but if access to your iPhone 5s depends on your fingerprint, that could be seen as physical evidence.
Hofmann provides a classic example that illustrates a similar case.
“Take this hypothetical example coined by the Supreme Court: If the police demand that you give them the key to a lockbox that happens to contain incriminating evidence, turning over the key wouldn’t be testimonial if it’s just a physical act that doesn’t reveal anything you know,” Hoffman wrote. “However, if the police try to force you to divulge the combination to a wall safe, your response would reveal the contents of your mind — and so would implicate the Fifth Amendment.”
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I find the finger printer reader problematic.
Knowing the NSA is able, and willing, to read your cellphone information, it seems that your fingerprint information could be accessible to them.
Maybe the fingerprint can end up to a place you have never been.
Doing things you wouldn’t normally do.
“...Would a criminal be willing to remove my finger in order to access my contact list? ...”
Not from where my finger usually is.
The fingerprint data is never available to other software, and it is not backed up to Apple's servers, leaving it stored entirely on the device in a secure fashion.
“The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.” ~Cmdr. M. Scott, UFP c. 2385
Much ado about nothing.
If the internal drive is not encrypted, the fingerprint reader is just a toy... And I personally have gotten around two types of so-called drive-encryption (really drive-locking) that turned out to be nothing more than a front door.
In point of fact, don’t put anything incriminating on any electronic device, period.
It’s a trap...ultimately. That being said...
This type of technology is pretty cool. Heck, almost any kind of technology is cool, and usually very beneficial. It’s a shame bad guys and the gubment (I repeat myself) choose to misuse it too the detriment of American citizens.
Also: What if you have a cut, burn, or other injury to your finger? Are you locked out of your phone until it heals?
You didn’t read the article.
If they ever require fingerprints for voting, we’re screwed.
Yes, I read the article. I was answering a question to another poster... that’s WHY I hit reply to that poster.
To debunk the article - one need only add that the fingerprint unlock may be used, OR a code may be entered. Who is to say “who” has access to the 4 digit code?
The intent of the fingerprint reader isn’t necessarily to safeguard any data.
The fingerprint, along with iOS 7 (coming to users of iPhone 4 and up, this next Wednesday) is aimed to make a stolen iPhone utterly worthless. Today, if I steal an iPhone, I can reset it and sell it for cash. The customer doesn’t know if it’s my old phone, or a stolen phone.
Next week, in order to release an iPhone from it’s owner’s account, the owner must log into the iPhone or his iCloud account and release the phone. If it’s not released, the owner can track it indefinitely. Will the local cops retrieve it and charge the thief with felony theft? Maybe, maybe not ... depending upon your location and the cops involved. But, the thieves will quickly learn that a stolen iPhone is now utterly worthless.
To debunk the article - one need only add that the fingerprint unlock may be used, OR a code may be entered. Who is to say “who” has access to the 4 digit code?
well, it came to me, fanboy. And your statement debunks nothing. Not that its a big deal to me, just an interesting question.
How does this involve voting? The Authentec chip (Authentec is now owned by Apple) stores portions of the fingerprint (you do NOT need to roll your fingerprint onto the screen. You touch the button several times (this registers a 360 degree rotation of how you touch the home button) with several fingers. Those fingers don't even have to belong to you (spouse can put a finger or two). I don't know how many fingerprints can be logged onto the account. The fingerprint is stored in the A7 chip - where it is used to identify YOU to the phone. That's it. Your fingerprint never leaves the phone - it was designed and built with security in mind. The iPhone simply says "You are YOU - I know this by your fingerprint or by your passcode". If someone steals your phone - the iPhone will now that who ever is attempting to use the phone is not a legitimate user. Because they are illegitimate, there are some things they are NOT allowed to do. Like, reset the phone.
Why are you attacking me? “Fanboy”? Really?
I’m just a hardware engineer who has worked in the industry for 20 years. Excuse the #@#$#@ out of me if I find this tech interesting and refreshing.
I don’t see an UP side to having people assaulted and having their phones stolen. Unlike the rest of the industry, Apple is taking steps to combat this problem - and you are attacking them for doing something.
Do you have anything to add? Perhaps some suggestion that would be useful? I think using the fingerprint tech on a phone, and then tying that to NFC is a huge benefit to the user. This means that I no longer should need to carry ID, or bank cards - my phone can identify me to the police, I can conduct banking, and buy groceries without having to carry a wallet. This is what I would call “good” and also pretty innovative.
Thats what apple says, anyway. And we all know you can trust the govt and large corporations. You cannot access the iOS operating systen to find out
Isn’t fingerprinting now standard when getting or renewing a driver’s license?
Looks like a fantastic upgrade. The security features seem very impressive..
BTW, I agree with you...Some of the comments here are just over the top...
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