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Disabling the iPhone 5S's fingerprint reader - any suggestions?

Zerilos said:
They could do all of that stuff without your fingerprints, why would they need them now? Do you think that Apple is lying about this scanner and the 5s will collect our fingerprints without your knowledge? To what end?
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YES, there are people who no longer trust the government or Apple who is cooperating with the government.

It is not like Apple has not misled us and our government has not just plain lied to us. I am not worried as the government got my prints long ago when I got my concealed to carry permit. I still do not trust them.
 
Stuke00 said:
Are you sure? Because it doesn't sound like you understand how it functions. Even if you use it, it stores an encrypted image inside the A7 processor. Even if someone somehow got to it, they would have to reverse engineer it to be able to get anything usable out of it. If someone wanted your fingerprint that bad, it would be easier to just left off something else you've touched.
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I know exactly how Apple says it works - that's not the issue. Of course it's easier to lift a print if you have physical access to the device. However, once you've figured out how to mass-reproduce prints lifted off the chip (or directly off the reader, which might be easier), it might be possible to get millions of personalized prints while you're sitting in your bedroom in Moscow, for example.

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Mercenary said:
And you think your government database with a fully copy of your prints is more secure?

The question is, who are you that you think someone would want your prints more than selling the phone?
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I'm not sure I fully understand your second question. Fingerprints can be used for many creative purposes (e.g. for incriminating someone) - so I'm just not particularly keen on giving them to the circles that might need to incriminate someone else in order to cover up crimes etc. That's probably a bit far-fetched and not very realistic. I'm more worried about what fingerprints will be used for in the future (e.g. getting money from the ATM).

Passwords can be changed, your fingerprint can't. Once it's out in the wild, the uses are manyfold and the damage is done - so it should be in everyone's best interest to make sure that doesn't happen. Considering that the iPhone's security system isn't exactly government-grade, I'd say entrusting a gadget with your prints is just a bit careless, no matter how good its manufacturer's intents are.
 
Stuke00 said:
Are you sure? Because it doesn't sound like you understand how it functions. Even if you use it, it stores an encrypted image inside the A7 processor. Even if someone somehow got to it, they would have to reverse engineer it to be able to get anything usable out of it. If someone wanted your fingerprint that bad, it would be easier to just left off something else you've touched.
Click to expand...

Actually, it does not store an image at all, but a data hash (which is just a long series of letters/numbers) that gets created on the fly by the fingerprint scanner and is compared against the data hash that was created when you added your fingerprint hash during setup.
 
You should probably put some masking tape over the front facing camera too while you're at it. You can never be too sure that your phone isn't recording you.
 
Since your phone is covered with your fingerprints it would be simpler to steal the phone and copy the prints than to reverse engineer the hash code into a usable fingerprint.

A tin foil hat and an old flip phone might be a better solution.....

:)
 
Why stop with the home button? I would also advise that you remove the GPS / Microphone / Cameras because you never know when they may be remotely activated by the NSA in order to track / record you. If you think all they're after is your fingerprints, you're sadly mistaken.
 
Why would it store your fingerprints if you aren't using the fingerprint reader? You have to go thru a set-up for the phone to learn your prints and enable their use. If you leave it off, there won't be any prints stored in the phone.
 
kis said:
So, I'm sure I'm not the only one here who doesn't feel comfortable using the upcoming iPhone 5S's fingerprint reader. What can be done to disable it? Disabling it in the settings won't cut it as your prints will like still be stored on the phone - they just won't be used for authentication purposes.
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What I find interesting is that the paranoia over the reader has reached a level that someone thinks it will record your print even without your turning that feature on.

Did your current iPhone come with the lock screen password already turned on and set up, or did you have to turn that feature on?
 
Givmeabrek said:
Since your phone is covered with your fingerprints it would be simpler to steal the phone and copy the prints than to reverse engineer the hash code into a usable fingerprint.

A tin foil hat and an old flip phone might be a better solution.....

:)
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This
 
Makaveliarts said:
If the Gov't doesn't have your fingerprints now, I'd bet they will soon enough.
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Especially if you work in a school or apply for a concealed carry permit. In Georgia, both require fingerprints to be sent to FBI and GBI for criminal background checks.
 
If you guys are that nervous and insecure about a fingerprint scanner on the phone, maybe you should not buy the phone and stick with what you have.
 
darngooddesign said:
What I find interesting is that the paranoia over the reader has reached a level that someone thinks it will record your print even without your turning that feature on.

Did your current iPhone come with the lock screen password already turned on and set up, or did you have to turn that feature on?
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I find it hilarious that THIS is what someone is paranoid about.....

If you are THAT concerned that someone will be able to somehow reverse engineer the hash (randomly generated as people have stated) OR even better, that Apple will somehow be collecting your fingerprints and storing them somewhere, you shouldn't be using a smartphone period!

How much easier would it be for Apple to collect FAR more information about you CURRENTLY? GPS, cameras on the phone, cell networks, wifi - if they have some remote switch that turns on the fingerprint reader to steal your prints, why wouldn't they have some switch that turns on your cell phone camera and records you? Wouldn't that be FAR worse?

People crack me up sometimes. It's like you don't think this through. If you're really that paranoid, your fingerprints should be the least of your worries.

My suggestion? Don't buy ANY new phone, sit in your house with the windows drawn and the doors locked and hide from the outside world. Because everyone is probably out to get you.......:rolleyes:
 
There is a general misconception about the fingerprint sensor on the iPhone 5s and what it is really doing. I suggest everyone read this before coming to conclusions.

Your Fingerprint is Not Your Password!

First, the fingerprint mechanism in the iPhone is simply a way to authorize the use of your stored password. It is not the password itself. Fingerprints make for terrible passwords.

In essence it is a glorified autofill feature.

Second, even if someone were to get a copy of your fingerprint they could not use it to authorize something without having your password too. If they have your password you don't need your fingerprint.

Third, your fingerprint is stored as a hash, which is most likely salted (speculating based on best practice) with something unique to the phone. Which means even if you were able to pull the raw data somehow the hash is useless to you.

There is still a lot to learn about the FP sensor and it's implementation but I'm not worried based on what I have heard so far.
 
A bit paranoid don't you think? If you have driver's license in the following states government already has your fingerprint: California, Colorado, Georgia, and Texas. If you come to US, INS will get your fingerprint. So if you don't want to give your fingerprint don't live in any of those states or come to US. And when you go out to have a drink in a bar wear gloves so no one can get your fingerprints to stranger.
 
Let me get this straight...

You're worried that the reader still reads fingerprints when it's not set up.
It doesn't.

That the reader retains images of your fingerprints.
It holds encrypted fingerprint data, not a actual images of fingerprints.

That the data is either sent somewhere else or is somehow easily hacked.
Fingerprint information is only stored securely on the device itself.

That, even without setting up the scanner, someone would go through your set up accounts on your phone, check your emails, and somehow confirm your identity that way... and then match that information up with the fingerprint that's not taken, stored, or remotely accessed and use that information to possibly set you up for a crime.

That sum it up?
 
Zerilos said:
They could do all of that stuff without your fingerprints, why would they need them now? Do you think that Apple is lying about this scanner and the 5s will collect our fingerprints without your knowledge? To what end?
Click to expand...

While I'm no quite as paranoid as the OP, this shows a disturbing lack of concern about what type of information companies (and governments) are collecting and what they're using it for. Apple was already collecting location and usage information from users without their knowledge, Google "accidentally" runs sniffing software on their street view vehicles, and Verizon preemptively allowed the NSA full server access for their wireless network.
Do you honestly believe these actions are in the end users best interest? If (and that's a big if, I'm not convinced that's true, but at the same time is certainly within the realm of possibility) Apple is storing fingerprints without user consent, even offline, it's highly troubling and does demand an answer.
 
OP, just don't buy the iPhone 5S. People are trying to give you sound replies and you keep coming back combatting everything they say. Once again, just don't buy the iPhone 5S, done. Argument over.
 
Just don't buy the phone.

Also cut off all access to any type of tech you may own.


....

(btw they probably already have your fingerprint)
 
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