In-display fingerprint sensors have become commonplace in virtually all Android smartphones, for better or for worse, and five years later...

In-display fingerprint sensors have become commonplace in virtually all Android smartphones, for better or for worse, and five years later…

  • socsaEnglish
    6•22 days ago

    For my threat profile, state actors compelling biometrics from my EDC phone is pretty low on my list of concerns. That shit is intentionally sterile because I know they will just push me a compromised “security update” if they want in.

    And in any case, I’d still rather be able to fight the collection in public, vs being compromised by anyone who paid the janitor $20 to plug a USB drive into my phone.

    • @[email protected]English
      4•22 days ago

      Sure, as conversation, i’ve heard of thieves face unlocking phones they just stole.

      Indeed running as sterile an every day phone as possible is another great security approach by reducing risk.

      • socsaEnglish
        4•22 days ago

        Yeah I don’t really care what a thief does with my phone after they brain me. It’s the skull damage which concerns me. My google account is locked down with a hardware key so there’s only so much damage they can do before I wipe the device. Unless I’m dead, in which case I guess it doesn’t matter. Also my wife knows how to handle this situation. I would strongly suggest investing in posthumous spouse security as early as possible.

        • @[email protected]English
          2•22 days ago

          Your last sentence is great.

          Regarding the prior stuff, that’s very “you specific”. There’s of course tons of caveats or gotchas to my broad statement, but it doesn’t make it untrue.

          Biometrics present a less secure access path to a device…

          • socsa
            4•22 days ago

            My point is that they are separable threat profiles. If you are more concerned about your sketchy tinder date grabbing your lock screen password, biometrics are great. What I would love is a quick settings toggle for biometrics.