So I have been wanting to get a Fingerprint Scanner for quite some time. Not only to use to login to my computer, but as well as using it as a secondary authentication for a lot of things, namely LastPass. I already have a physical Two Factor Authentication (TFA), via my yubikey, which is nice; the downside to yubikey is anyone can use it if I leave it in my computer (which I tend to do). I used to try to remember to put it on my keychain when I was done with it, but I log on and off my computer constantly throughout the day and everytime I close my browser and reopen it, I either am automatically signed into LastPass but need to verify with my TFA Yubikey, or I need to sign into LastPass with my Master Password AND my Yubikey. I would like to use a fingerprint scanner so there is no way anyone can access my computer physically. Obviously they can restore the computer, but they wouldn't be able to get into my HDD without it.
However, the more I read about it, the more I find out about how once Mavericks was released, a lot of the scanners that were supported by Macs don't work. And apparently one of the main companies that makes them, AthenTec, which is supposedly been bought out by Apple, making me wonder what the heck is wrong with them keeping up support if they bought them out? Unless it was to take out a competitor so they could release an Apple Fingerprint Scanner.
I want a decent one, not something like the fingerprint scanner quality of the iPhone 5S or Galaxy S5 (I have the S5 and although it works, it doesn't seem like it's as secure as an actual biometric scanner; I haven't really used the 5S so I can't say about theirs, although I can't imagine it being much better). I'm surprised at how much they cost considering you can buy a Vault/Safe that has a biometric unlock mechanism for about 150 or less. Obviously they go higher but 100 seems to be the average price for a decent scanner, so it makes me wonder how much they are profiting off these.
However, the more I read about it, the more I find out about how once Mavericks was released, a lot of the scanners that were supported by Macs don't work. And apparently one of the main companies that makes them, AthenTec, which is supposedly been bought out by Apple, making me wonder what the heck is wrong with them keeping up support if they bought them out? Unless it was to take out a competitor so they could release an Apple Fingerprint Scanner.
I want a decent one, not something like the fingerprint scanner quality of the iPhone 5S or Galaxy S5 (I have the S5 and although it works, it doesn't seem like it's as secure as an actual biometric scanner; I haven't really used the 5S so I can't say about theirs, although I can't imagine it being much better). I'm surprised at how much they cost considering you can buy a Vault/Safe that has a biometric unlock mechanism for about 150 or less. Obviously they go higher but 100 seems to be the average price for a decent scanner, so it makes me wonder how much they are profiting off these.