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Why you don't want Fingerprint ID

At one time, you had to put a fingerprint on your checks. Guess there were a lot of forgeries going around at the time.
 
if i had some need for a fingerprint scanner on my phone, i'd think i would need to re-evaluate my life a bit. are people really that tin-foil hatty? I mean, it's a smartphone, not a bank vault!
 
It's just another secure locking/unlocking mechanism for pete's sake, no different in function to the PIN, password or pattern lock that Android has. Maybe you don't keep any info on your phone that you wouldn't mind a stranger sifting through if they found the device, but many others do.
 
It is inconvenient. It would be far easier to allow locking certain apps as a group or lock data connections so voice and text only work.

If I locked my phone, the Vulcan couldn't use it in an emergency, or check a text message.
 
The bias is so funny to me, as well as hypocritical.

Here Apple is being bashed for the fingerprint scanner, but when it was announced so many people talked about "well android did it first".

So it seems to me, if android users want to brag that it was on Android first and bash Apple, then you also have to bash Motorola for doing it first and having it not catch on.
 
Have never used a security lock on my phone. This is something, if it worked as shown in the keynote, I might be interested in. I unlock my phone all day long, I don't have time to enter a pin. Also, I have Cerberus installed as a system app, so if stolen or lost, I can remotely wipe it.
 
you are correct. the only info stored in my phone are MP3s and a few photos of my pets. and even those are backed up to other media. that is because it's a smartphone. it could be easily lost, stolen, broken, smashed, crushed, disassembled at any time. a fingerprint scanner is just another redundant piece of hardware that can fail or glitch out and lock a legitimate user from their device.

it's just like those newer cars with VATS security. i have one of them, a Pontiac Bonneville with a chip inside the key, supposedly the only key that will start the car. unfortunately for GM, they realized later on that the system failed often and prevented the owner from using their own vehicle; in essence, preventing the person from stealing their own car. radios with TheftLock also had issues and that one remains unresolved overall. i am not sure about you guys, but i am not very keen on paying someone $150 to unlock my phone if such a system fails. it's just VATS systems for our phones. I feel that anyone keeping extremely sensitive data on a device likely to be stolen or broken, needs to seek mental help. if you have bank info or such, it's far safer to be stored in a fire-proof safe somewhere. such a safe would benefit far more from fingerprint/retina/biometrics if you ask me.
 
nickdalzell said:
I feel that anyone keeping extremely sensitive data on a device likely to be stolen or broken, needs to seek mental help.
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Sorry, but that's way OTT. You're also implying I require mental help?

Do you keep your bank cards in your wallet?

What's worse? Keeping sensitive data on a device that's protected by a pin/passcode/finger print scanner or keeping your bank/credit card in your wallet? Both are easily lost or stolen, but the cards blatantly display sensitive sort code and account information.
 
If using the cards was totally separate from the phone service and other apps it could be interesting. Say it was an app from the credit card company rather than Google Wallet or Iris? I don't care for the fact that phone info might show. Give some merchants phone numbers or any info and bang! you have SPAM. Aside from verifying payment received, they have no business contacting you.

Right now, stores that want addresses and zip codes to help them market either get told where to go, or given wrong info. The CC company has the right address.
 
I wouldn't keep anything that sensitive on my phone that I would need to worry about 5th Amendment issues. Really if you are that worried about it, either don't keep it on your device or use some third party encryption with an insanely long pass phrase, that you don't write down anywhere.

I find that the fingerprint reader is on par with the facial recognition unlock that many devices have already. I wouldn't consider this "ironclad" security, but it is useful for things like keeping a child out of your phone etc. I turn on the facial unlock when I would be over at my brother's house. My nephew loves anything electronic (he even bought a game through XBOX live).
 
Codegerm said:
I wouldn't keep anything that sensitive on my phone that I would need to worry about 5th Amendment issues. Really if you are that worried about it, either don't keep it on your device or use some third party encryption with an insanely long pass phrase, that you don't write down anywhere.
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You simply do not know what is on your phone that could tie you to a crime you know nothing about. Add to that fact that police are tricky and they can eek a confession out of a rock. Also, understand that the cops are legally allowed to lie to you, you simply do NOT know what can bite you in the seat of your pantaloons.
 
My concern isn't what is on my phone. I don't have to worry about what pics are on there etc.

My concern is the access someone would gain by having my unlocked phone in their possession. Password resets are sent to my gmail account - which they now have access to. Actually a smart thief would go straight to my gmail account and change the password using the two-factor I have set up on my phone. Then go through my gmail to see what accounts he can password reset that will authenticate through my gmail. Then through the browser to see what shopping sites, financial sites, etc I frequent. Could be the easiest way to steal my identity short of getting into my locked filed cabinet at home.
 
That's why I use Boat Browser and delete everything on exit. I don't use widgets on the browser. I'll go to the regular web site. I do the same on the PC. I don't like Google's accounts being so wide open. You can get into Play right on the phone.

Gmail is frozen by TB, which also should have its own password, and I can tell Aquamail to require password on request for sync. I don't sync automatically.

Maps, social locations, Now are removed by TB. They can find location by Weatherbug or any astronomy program that has the coordinates set. In the astronomy programs, you have to use latitude and longitude.

I don't keep the EXIF info on photos. I know where and when I took them. I don't keep it on the regular cameras, so it's a quirk.

I do have a finance program, but no bank name. Just track use of cc. No name on cc. Plus it requires a separate login.

I still think you should be able to lock certain groups of programs and leave public usage free. The Vulcan is getting interested in my phone - kid likes to look a photos
and as far as I'm concerned, those, weather, and phone calls should be available.
 
Bob Maxey said:
You simply do not know what is on your phone that could tie you to a crime you know nothing about. Add to that fact that police are tricky and they can eek a confession out of a rock. Also, understand that the cops are legally allowed to lie to you, you simply do NOT know what can bite you in the seat of your pantaloons.
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Again, I DO know what exactly is on my phone, and no I don't have to worry about any of it. As for the way law enforcement operates, I am well aware, having worked with them on many levels that others haven't. Yes, they use tactics to try to trip a suspect up, but that is nothing new.
 
pool_shark said:
The bias is so funny to me, as well as hypocritical.

Here Apple is being bashed for the fingerprint scanner, but when it was announced so many people talked about "well android did it first".

So it seems to me, if android users want to brag that it was on Android first and bash Apple, then you also have to bash Motorola for doing it first and having it not catch on.
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And that people still were. Yes, we said Android had it first, then we said, it still failed that's why no other phone (outside of possibly the HTC One Max) has implemented it.
 
My preference would be to use NFC rather than fingerprint. At least NFC can be replaced and deactivated or unpaired if lost. Fingerprints, not so much.
 
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