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Calling all geeks!


G+_Rud Dog
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Calling all geeks! My wife keeps forgetting her password so decided it was time to purchase thumb print reader. Can anyone speak from experience or great reviews for this device as it applies to the IMac. It would be nice if it was transferable to her desktop Imac or Apple laptop computer. Have done some google searches and found some anywhere from low to high end but can't get a balance of reviews on any of them.

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Have you considered Yubikey? It can be used for Mac login, I believe, as well as paired with LastPass, for web logins. I don't know if it will authenticate for keyring, (I am in the Windows and Linux ecosystems)

 

As for your question, there are several ways to do fingerprints. One method essentially uses high resolution photographs, some store it as is, others convert to an equation of sorts.

 

Another method measures the conductivity across the finger, which fingerprint ridges vary, and stores that profile.

 

I've only encountered readers built into mobile hardware, such as Getacs, so I can't speak as to brands, like Eikon.

 

I'm assuming she doesn't have a newer iPhone or Apple watch, as these can be paired to use touch ID to unlock a Mac.

 

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Tod Sage I have been away from watching Security Now for some time now and will have to tune in and find out where he is with that new sign in technology.

P.S.

Every since they moved from the brick house to the new location the downloads after hitting play on my Roku takes about a minute before the video starts.

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Rud, may I suggest something from left field? As a CAD designer (and programmer) of 20 years, some of the best shortcuts to use the software are (still) achieved using the keyboard... which, when needing to use them all day, every day, called for some lateral thinking to find a better way. In 2003 I bought a Belken Nostromo N52 game controller. (stick with me...) This allowed me to 'program' (record) the keystrokes, save within the software and assign them to keys on the controller. It saved me... time, frustration, money etc.

 

The later version, the Belkin N52te Speedpad, actually stores the assigned macro keystrokes on the controller, negating the need for the application to be running to enable its function. This means you can assign the password to one of the controller keys, with the login screen having cursor focus, press said key and password is typed ready to hit enter. You could even add the enter key with the password string...

 

On the face of it, this looks like overkill but the object is to use a technology which is well proven, not complex by way of introducing new technologies and can add value to other aspects of the computing experience. A game controller doesn't mean it's only for use with games. You could source one second hand for a reasonable price, with little to no wear and tear. I bought the one pictured below for about A$75 new about 6 years ago, mind you, checking Ebay, there are units priced up near US$200... that's loony tunes!

 

Sorry for the 'War & Peace' chapter, I figured the back story helps paint the picture.

18047%20-%20n52te2.jpg

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Damien Wessling that gave me brain a needed bump. Why? I am a gamer and have a keyboard which I used in the past for macros(duh) and never thought to use it for passwords for my wife's machine even though it was my go to for password on World of Warcraft. Never thought to use if specifically for that purpose, way to think outside the box.

The added touch which makes this feasible is the storage of the data on the device its self.

Now off to see if the unit will work on a iMac and/or mac laptop. Thank you.

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Rud Dog You're welcome ?

 

One last note on the above unit... due to the macro's being stored in the controller's eprom (record and/or modify macro, commit pushes the final code to the controller) you can use it at cold boot. It mimics a a standard usb keyboard so you can use it on any computer, it doesn't require the programming software to be installed (unless you're editing the macros). Genius!

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One more thought, recalling stores about bad usb, if the controller on a USB stick can be reprogrammed to emulate another device, how feasible would it be to retask a cheep thumb drive to act like a physical key?

Could it not report as a keyboard and type in a password for you?

If your worried about her loosing it, put it on her car key ring.

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