I honestly think you don't understand the risks of man-in-the-middle attacks on this security/authentication subsystem. Connecting the Touch ID sensor to the device validating the print with USB/TB/wireless is, honestly, a stupid idea. I can think of about 8 different ways that would be instantly undermining the integrity of this validation mechanism. Making the location of the Touch ID sensor "more convenient" is throwing out the baby with the bath water.
I accually [sic] do.
Really? You really think you understand the risks of man-in-the-middle attacks for your proposed fingerprint authentication? Show us.
What, IYHO, are the top 10 risks in putting the Touch ID sensor for the Mac Pro in the keyboard?
BTW: you understand
the terrible risks with Disney's fingerprint validation system, right? Search for "knuckle" in that Security Now! transcript.
Please explain to me how a man in the middle attack on the example i gave, where all the handling of the fingerprint where done on a chip inside the keyboard (just like on the iphone).
Your "proposal" is waaaaay too half-baked for anyone to comment on it. If you want specific feedback, you need to make a specific proposal. If you're talking about containing the entire validation mechanism inside of the keyboard, an obvious problem is that you have introduced a completely separate computation device into the system -- something that would have to have its own processor, display, UI, etc. But your two-sentence description is really way too vague to even comment on.
The "it" that Apple would be doing is putting Touch ID authentication on all of their computers -- and having integrated support in the OS and Safari to manage logins to websites (for starters).
So first you telling me that there are sooo many ways to exploit a keyboard with a fingerprint scanner. And 1 sec later you are seriously saying that OS and Safari should get access to fingerprint scanning.Really?
Bingo. Having the shortest possible path between the Touch ID scanner and the validation circuitry is the best possible way to ensure that the validation process is atomic.
Before we can continue this discussion, you really need to demonstrate you understand the risks in what you're proposing:
What, IYHO, are the top 10 risks in putting the Touch ID sensor for the Mac Pro in the keyboard?
I can't tell at this point if you have fundamental literacy in what the risks are...
The only way to do that in any safe way at all, is to treat it with a special chip (or integrated in the cpu) just like on the iPhone.
Bingo again. That supports my argument why the Mac Pro would be a good first Mac to implement such things.
And since you need that anyway it would be much more convenient to have it on your keyboard.
If MitM attacks cannot be thwarted, then convenience of your [vague] proposal is irrelevant.
...but we can't even tell at this point if you understand the risks your ideas add. You need to address my "top 10 risks" question.
I am totally with you on the "iUnits" and the laptops Apple provide.
But to include it on the stationary computers is just bonkers and just wont happen. Its a STUPID idea really.
Using a fingerprint scanner is all about conveniency and security. And no one will use it if the scanner is out of arms length. Its much more easy to type in your password.
If you search on
USB keyboard with fingerprint scanner or or
Bluetooth keyboard with fingerprint scanner, you'll find plenty of people who have provided PC scanners that are that is within arm's length.
BTW: on the iPhone 5S, users are free to not use the Touch ID scanner. Any solution Apple provides on Macs would obviously provide the same fluidity for validation.
In case you haven't noticed, Apple gets ridiculed for most everything they do or don't do. Here's a video of someone ridiculing Apple back in 2007:
YouTube:
video
Yeah cos this is the same situation....
Whoever said it was the same situation?

You told us:
I think Apple would be seriously ridiculed if they put one on the Mac Pro.
My point: someone will
always ridicule AAPL for each and every one of its decisions -- especially product changes where the paradigm is altered. Your "seriously ridiculed" comment was purely specious in this discussion, and it would be purely specious in any discussion about Apple's product choices. Your prediction that the general public would "ridicule" a validation subsystem that provided robust reliable service is pure speculation. AFAICT, we've never ever seen a validation system that actually worked well on any consumer products; any such speculation would be decidedly premature.
But a computer. You normally sit by for longer periods. You don't need to unlock them as often as you have to with phones.
We have no idea how you came to that conclusion.
Once a purchasing ecosystem is in place, why to you presume that one would need validation more or less frequently on Mac computers than on iOS devices?
Remember: you need to persuade us you are literate about the risks of MitM attacks.
What, IYHO, are the top 10 risks in putting the Touch ID sensor for the Mac Pro in the keyboard?