Windows 8.1 Lets You Lock Folders With Your Fingerprint

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The Windows 8.1 update has added porn protection...ummm, I mean.... fingerprint recognition that lets you sign into your account and lock folders using your fingerprint.

Swiping or touching a finger on a reader will allow Windows 8.1 to authenticate a finger against a Microsoft Account. Users will also be able to purchase applications using a fingerprint reader or login to apps.
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This feature alone might make me upgrade finally from Windows 7.
 
That's encouraging. I have wondered how long it was going to take MS to build fingerprint functionality into Windows. They've been available for almost a decade now. This seems like a good start. Native active directory integration can't be far off, can it?
 
I've said it before, but biometrics are overrated. Once cracked, your biometric fingerprint (covering fingers, eyes, anything else you might use for identity, down to DNA) can't be changed to something else.

A good authentication mechanism needs the flexibility to change if compromised. Once biometrics are compromised, the individual is SOL.
 
So what.. worst method of securing anything anyhow. I laugh at people dumb enough to use fingerprints then proceed to show them how pathetically easy it is to circumvent.
 
Biometrics give law enforcement (or anyone slightly motivated) a convenient backdoor.
 
Consumer level fingerprint tech isn't meant to be bullet-proof, but for the non-tech savy or security conscious user it is MUCH more secure than using the same same simple password for every login that they have stuck to their monitor on a sticky note

Just like anything else, if someone has physical access to your system it can be broken. For the vast majority of people though, fingerprint scanners will be a vast improvement in security if used in conjunction with good password management software that generates strong passwords and does automatic logins with just the finger scan of the user...

That said, I can't help but wonder from the wording here if this will be integrated into Windows itself or will require the "Microsoft Account" that is an option with Windows 8.

Overall Windows 8 is an improvement over Windows 7 in virtually every way thanks to the vast performance improvements, new features, and many old bug fixes (yes, the start screen takes some getting used to, has some quirks, and needs some tweaks hopefully forthcoming in 8.1 -- but honestly, who the hell even USES the start menu anymore since Vista introduced start search and pinning to taskbar... it ain't 1995 anymore people...)

But... there's no way in hell I'm ever using a Microsoft Account to login to Windows.

Sorry guys, but I don't need to login to my account on other peoples computers (nor would I ever be stupid enough to do that) and I don't trust you to store my settings, personal info, and documents on your cloud...

So if my fingerprint authentication is tied to a Microsoft Account? No thanks. Not giving you my finger prints or any other biometric data any more than I'm using my real name or personal info on anything I sign up for from you (or Google, or Facebook, or Etc,Etc.) and not using the cloud... Ever.
 
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot said:
Consumer level fingerprint tech isn't meant to be bullet-proof, but for the non-tech savy or security conscious user it is MUCH more secure than using the same same simple password for every login that they have stuck to their monitor on a sticky note

Just like anything else, if someone has physical access to your system it can be broken. For the vast majority of people though, fingerprint scanners will be a vast improvement in security if used in conjunction with good password management software that generates strong passwords and does automatic logins with just the finger scan of the user...

That said, I can't help but wonder from the wording here if this will be integrated into Windows itself or will require the "Microsoft Account" that is an option with Windows 8.

Overall Windows 8 is an improvement over Windows 7 in virtually every way thanks to the vast performance improvements, new features, and many old bug fixes (yes, the start screen takes some getting used to, has some quirks, and needs some tweaks hopefully forthcoming in 8.1 -- but honestly, who the hell even USES the start menu anymore since Vista introduced start search and pinning to taskbar... it ain't 1995 anymore people...)

But... there's no way in hell I'm ever using a Microsoft Account to login to Windows.

Sorry guys, but I don't need to login to my account on other peoples computers (nor would I ever be stupid enough to do that) and I don't trust you to store my settings, personal info, and documents on your cloud...

So if my fingerprint authentication is tied to a Microsoft Account? No thanks. Not giving you my finger prints or any other biometric data any more than I'm using my real name or personal info on anything I sign up for from you (or Google, or Facebook, or Etc,Etc.) and not using the cloud... Ever.
Click to expand...

Account for one day and already posting what appears to be advertising...nice.

The performance improvements of Win 8 over win 7 in like hardware and a clean install for both are minor, not vast by any stretch of the imagination.
 
Will it keep my kids and wife out of folders? Yes? Then, it's good.

If you want something more secure, try the RSA stuff or something more advanced. Yes, you can beat fingerprint scanners. But, would your kids or wife (most of them) or neighbor be able to access it? No? Then, it's good enough for most consumers.
 
the-one1 said:
cloud = fancy new marketing name for the interwebs
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It's a bit more than that now. I hate 'The Cloud' reference. It used to be the Internet or managed network (the cloud in a network diagram - don't know, don't know what/where it goes until it hits your equipment). Now, it's more of managed hardware/network infrastructure like Amazon data centers or Microsoft data centers. They handle a ton of stuff, and you just take care of the virtual server and the clients internet connection.

The Cloud isn't really defined anymore. It's a loose term that can be 'the internet' or what I mentioned above, or I can say my dick is 'the cloud'.... Everyone wants a piece of it.
 
Dekoth-E- said:
Account for one day and already posting what appears to be advertising...nice.

The performance improvements of Win 8 over win 7 in like hardware and a clean install for both are minor, not vast by any stretch of the imagination.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah that sounded like a resounding endorsement Microsoft's and their push to get us all onto the cloud and act more and more like Apple in controlling and limiting how we use our PCs...

Fact is Win8 is significantly faster than Win7. Better memory use, MUCH faster file transfers, and better network performance... and it has little to do with hardware.

The whole OS was optimized for much lower end hardware (IE Tablets) so of course it runs better.

Right up until RTM placed a restriction on Win8 installs that the CPU had to have execute bit support, you were able to install the earlier betas onto ancient hardware... hardware that choked on Windows 7 but could run Windows 8.

Hell, right now I'm back to running Win7 on an old laptop because the 2006 era Video card has graphics glitches in Win8 (and unfortunately no new drivers post-Win7) and it is painfully slower in day to day use than it was during the month or so I used 8 on it.

Windows 8 is quite a bit faster than Windows 7. End of story.

Just can't understand all the irrational troll-hate for Win8. *shrug*
 
my windows 7 machine had built in finger print detection for login. To me whats sad is that more devices don't ship with finger print readers. I really miss it on my new laptop. Seems like it would be a killer feature on tablets.
 
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot said:
Oh yeah that sounded like a resounding endorsement Microsoft's and their push to get us all onto the cloud and act more and more like Apple in controlling and limiting how we use our PCs...

Fact is Win8 is significantly faster than Win7. Better memory use, MUCH faster file transfers, and better network performance... and it has little to do with hardware.

The whole OS was optimized for much lower end hardware (IE Tablets) so of course it runs better.

Right up until RTM placed a restriction on Win8 installs that the CPU had to have execute bit support, you were able to install the earlier betas onto ancient hardware... hardware that choked on Windows 7 but could run Windows 8.

Hell, right now I'm back to running Win7 on an old laptop because the 2006 era Video card has graphics glitches in Win8 (and unfortunately no new drivers post-Win7) and it is painfully slower in day to day use than it was during the month or so I used 8 on it.

Windows 8 is quite a bit faster than Windows 7. End of story.

Just can't understand all the irrational troll-hate for Win8. *shrug*
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It isn't troll hate, its the simple fact that proponents of Win 8 exaggerate its performance gains. Yes it is faster, but not by a significant margin.

Why don't you post on your real account hmm? Don't throw how the troll statement when you are trying to hide who you are.
 
Dekoth-E- said:
It isn't troll hate, its the simple fact that proponents of Win 8 exaggerate its performance gains. Yes it is faster, but not by a significant margin.
Click to expand...

At the top end I would agree that there's not a great deal of performance difference between 7 and 8 but I do think that 8 does run considerably better on lower end hardware.
 
heatlesssun said:
At the top end I would agree that there's not a great deal of performance difference between 7 and 8 but I do think that 8 does run considerably better on lower end hardware.
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For a second I thought Heatless made a new account!
 
heatlesssun said:
At the top end I would agree that there's not a great deal of performance difference between 7 and 8 but I do think that 8 does run considerably better on lower end hardware.
Click to expand...

When talking about extremely old equipment you may have an argument. However in general anything Core2Duo and beyond are going to be marginal. Again don't get me wrong, Under the hood I like Win 8. My single only gripe with it is the UI. I am just pointing out that in real world application, the performance gains for win 8 in a like environment are not as large as some what us to believe. Now as for those end users running ancient computers older and Core 2's..upgrading the OS is the least of their problems. :D

Now tablets and the like, OF course. I won't dispute that given the OS was designed for them.
 
ferzerp said:
I've said it before, but biometrics are overrated. Once cracked, your biometric fingerprint (covering fingers, eyes, anything else you might use for identity, down to DNA) can't be changed to something else.

A good authentication mechanism needs the flexibility to change if compromised. Once biometrics are compromised, the individual is SOL.
Click to expand...

encrypted biometrics > encrypted character strings

So what do you suggest we do? :confused:
 
Dekoth-E- said:
It isn't troll hate, its the simple fact that proponents of Win 8 exaggerate its performance gains. Yes it is faster, but not by a significant margin.

Why don't you post on your real account hmm? Don't throw how the troll statement when you are trying to hide who you are.
Click to expand...

heatlesssun said:
At the top end I would agree that there's not a great deal of performance difference between 7 and 8 but I do think that 8 does run considerably better on lower end hardware.
Click to expand...

JayteeBates said:
For a second I thought Heatless made a new account!
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Why debate about Windows 8 performance in a thread about Windows 8.1 fingerprint recognition? :confused:
 
CreepyUncleGoogle said:
Why debate about Windows 8 performance in a thread about Windows 8.1 fingerprint recognition? :confused:
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Because people like to h8 on 8. (See wut I did there?) Their whole reasonning behind not getting the significantly better OS is metro, and that they should not have to take 30 seconds to install classic shell, as if they didn't need to have new pants and many other things ajusted,

I'm not sure about fingerprint recognition. At least not online, where the authenticating data travels the interwebz. Now, at, say, the pentagon, you'd have to stand there in person in front of the specific scanner with the reading taken live there. But on the internet you can surely easily fool the system.
 
Tak Ne said:
Biometrics give law enforcement (or anyone slightly motivated) a convenient backdoor.
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Glad someone caught that pretty quick. What's the first thing they do when they book you? Now they can access everything you've encrypted. But it's a "feature"....
 
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot said:
Consumer level fingerprint tech isn't meant to be bullet-proof, but for the non-tech savy or security conscious user it is MUCH more secure than using the same same simple password for every login that they have stuck to their monitor on a sticky note
Click to expand...

Easy to lose a finger. Definitely happens faster than losing the mind.
 
The best (and only even remotely effective) method of using this tech is to not show where it is active. For say, a passworded screen, the user could touch anywhere, and set that location as also part of the lock. You would memorize the location (such as keypoints on a background image) and never have the area obvious to someone trying to pass it. You could then take that and apply it to a whole set of fingers, then take it yet another step further and make a specific swipe motion as well.

It would look amazingly sci-fi on something like a surface table, or on the wall touchscreen.
 
ferzerp said:
I've said it before, but biometrics are overrated. Once cracked, your biometric fingerprint (covering fingers, eyes, anything else you might use for identity, down to DNA) can't be changed to something else.

A good authentication mechanism needs the flexibility to change if compromised. Once biometrics are compromised, the individual is SOL.
Click to expand...

MS will never learn and these features scream HELP we can't fix our UI mess :) .
 
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