Fingers No Longer Your Own?

According to an article on The Register, someone has developed a proof-of-concept for a ‘bio-logger’.

You’ve heard of key-loggers for keyboards right? That log keystrokes made on a target keyboard and send the retrieved data to a USB key or via the internet to anyone. Well this new ‘gadget’ does the same thing but captures images of fingerprints from keyboard users which could then be used to create a replica fingerprint and used to access biometric-protected areas.

This just goes to show that not even your fingerprints are safe. Imagine if you will, that the government gets it’s way and introduces its identity card scheme, you use a computer that has a ‘bio-logger’ attached… hackers’, thieves and general undesirables then have your fingerprints. Which they can then use to potentially steal all of your data from anywhere that (in the future) uses biometrics as a security system. Off the top of my head I would imagine using it instead of chip-n-pin, passports, starting your car and even general identification if stopped by the police.

This reminds me of a 5 part drama that was on recently called ‘The Last Enemy’ set in the not to distant future and featuring things. But that’s another post entirely.

Just another reason why the government’s identity card system would fail miserably.

• Bio-logger
• Biometrics
• Hacking
• Security
• Technology