Integrated Fingerprint Reader

Integrated Fingerprint Reader IBM released a second generation of T42 models in Autumn 2004 featuring Intel Pentium M 765 processors and an integrated fingerprint reader. The fingerprint reader is produced by a company called UPEK, which specializes in the manufacture of fingerprint readers. It is integrated as an USB device, and does all the matching in hardware, making it rather easy to use. Furthermore, IBM states that there's an interface with the Embedded Security Subsystem. UPEK now sells the fingerprint reader as a USB peripheral bundled with the same underlying software for accessing password-protected online accounts and Windows: Eikon Digital Privacy Manager However: The fingerprint reader is an INSECURE device and gives a false sense of security! There has been quite a bit of research by a hacker named Starbug, a member of the Chaos Computer Club, Berlin, Germany. He outlined in two very good talks how to forge each and every available fingerprint sensor available at the cost of a few euros, using materials from your local hardware store, a digicam and a laser printer! Here's some links: Fingerprint recognition in supermarkets Video tutorial for forging fingerprints Remember, using fingerprints for authentication is much similar to having a password which is written on anything you touch. Open Source There is a new GPL driver at http://thinkfinger.sourceforge.net; see the How to enable the fingerprint reader with ThinkFinger for detailed instructions. This is the recommended option as it integrates more seamlessly with PAM and doesn't produce a tacky graphical prompt. Hint: If you've followed the instructions and "tf-tool --verify" works, but nothing else does, make sure that the "uinput" module is loaded. Binary Only A closed source driver from the vendor has been released. It interfaces to the hardware as a user-space USB driver through /proc/bus/usb and provides a BioAPI 1.10 device, which can then be interfaced to pam for authentication by user programs. The driver can be downloaded from http://www.upek.com/support/dl_linux_bsp.asp; see the corresponding HOWTO for detailed instructions. It however tends to be less stable than the above opensource driver. Related Links Review from TrustedReviews of the fingerprint scanner A (Russian) project that provides support for a (different model) of fingerprint scanner (also a USB device, though) TouchStrip TCS3/TCD4 spec sheet A branch of the BioAPI reference implementation Models featuring this Technology ThinkPad R52, R60 ThinkPad T42, T42p, T43, T43p, T60, T60p, T61, T61p ThinkPad X41, X41 Tablet, X60, X60s, X61s, X61 Tablet ThinkPad Z60m, Z60t, Z61m, Z61p, Z61t