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Facial Recognition May Replace Online Passwords

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08:09:00 AM EST
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New technology is all abuzz with news of programs that would replace those pesky 10 digit "letter-number -character" passwords we are getting accustomed to, with using our faces as our passwords to log into our protected information instead.

On the one hand, it sounds Orwellian. It takes very little for a copy to get a copy of your photo from these merchandisers, media and social media sites. On the other hand, for those of us with passwords at home, passwords at work and more passwords for online shopping and paying bills, it could be a relief. Except it's not a done deal yet. Why? Because someone cold hold up a picture of you at the computer or whatever, and the computer may not be able to tell the difference.

Yet, this may be the next wave. Why does it have to be the face we show, which is a dead giveaway to law enforcement if they get hold of it? Why can't it be a scar somewhere on your body, or a tatoo that's never visible in your photos? Flash the tat or scar and presto, you're in to your site. And nobody gets to see your face.

How do you feel about having so many images of your face all over the internet?

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    Facial Recognition May Replace Online Passwords | 32 comments (32 topical)
    It's all getting a bit ridiculous... (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 09:46:05 AM EST
    ain't it?  What's next...a spit receptacle on your laptop to test your god damn dna?

    A password is more than enough, and if ya can't remember them do what I do, write 'em on a stickynote and stick it to your screen.  One company we rep is so paranoid they make you change your password every 90 days...it's so annoying.  Like anybody cares to break into your stupid order entry system guy...delusions of importance.

    I read posts like this and news like this and the urge to go Apeman gets stronger.  Analog cat in a digitial age I tell ya.

    I agree..... (none / 0) (#13)
    by ruffian on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:38:47 AM EST
    for one thing, not all of us have brand new computers with cameras, especially at work.

    Passwords are a pain, but I'd rather see a really useful and user friendly universal password app than any bio-recognition stuff.

    Parent

    Sh*t... (5.00 / 0) (#14)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:46:18 AM EST
    I'll settle for a check-box that says something like "I swear I is who I say I is";)

    I guess I speak from a luxury of having nothing of real importance on my hard drive or online that is protected by password...worse that could happen to me is somebody reads my emails or posts TL comments under my name...big whoop.

    Parent

    You are a unique commenter, kdog. (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by oculus on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:52:24 AM EST
    Everyone here would know in an instant if a weak imitator showed up.  

    Parent
    Good to know... (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:59:31 AM EST
    if that poser shows up, please send a search party to Gitmo...I'm counting on you Oc! ;)

    Parent
    Over the Holidays (none / 0) (#24)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:26:43 PM EST
    I was Mario Carting online and some dude named kdog showed up.  The map indicated he was somewhere in the NorthEast.  I figured it wasn't you because that clown couldn't drive for nothing...

    But there is another one lurking around, at least in gamer virtuacity.

    Parent

    My youngest sister (none / 0) (#25)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:39:19 PM EST
    Often referred to her ex-boyfriend Keith (when he was the current boyfriend) as kdog.  

    Parent
    She was your sister? (5.00 / 3) (#27)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 02:38:41 PM EST
    Kidding, kidding;)

    Parent
    that's just wrong (none / 0) (#28)
    by CST on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 02:40:37 PM EST
    funny, but wrong.

    Parent
    You could do worse (none / 0) (#29)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 02:46:05 PM EST
    She's extremely pretty with dark hair, dark eyes, and skin that looks like cafe au lait.  People think she's Hispanic or Middle Eastern, but we have lots of Italian in us.

    It's really funny when she is next to one of my other sisters (and her roommate), who is blondish, blue eyed, and very fair skinned, and people say they look alike (no, they really don't).  : )

    Parent

    Sounds like just my type.... (5.00 / 3) (#30)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 02:58:17 PM EST
    always been a sucker for brunettes with dark features.

    But she could certainly do better...broked*ck dgenerates with many a bad habits get stale after 3 months.  That's why the special lady and I work so well toegther...she only spends time with me 1-2 weeks at a time, perfecto! ;)

    Parent

    Coulda been me... (none / 0) (#26)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:43:03 PM EST
    not much of a gamer driver (or a real driver for that matter;), not since Pole Position at least...but your instincts were correct my friend.

    Parent
    One more advantage (none / 0) (#16)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:40:25 AM EST
    to being among the "unbanked," I guess.

    Parent
    Indeed... (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:50:09 AM EST
    nobody robbing me with a pc or a pen, ya need to get your hands dirty.

    Aside from the thievery that occurs before I get my paws on the paper currency of course;)

    Parent

    perhaps it's time for smello-passwords? (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by cpinva on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:15:32 AM EST
    in my dystopian orwellian nightmare world, your scent is your password. ha! try copying my personal "odor de morning", and using it to access all my accounts! ok, you probably don't want to do that.

    more to the point: (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by cpinva on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:18:17 AM EST
    How do you feel about having so many images of your face all over the internet?

    who's going to be responsible for the cost of those hundreds of hours of counseling that will be required, for those foolish enough to view pictures of my face online?

    Your face is everywhere already (none / 0) (#7)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:27:26 AM EST
    Street cameras, store cameras, anyone ever taking a picture in your vicinity with their phone cameras.

    You're out there already....

    Parent

    But They Aren't Linked to Your Name (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:37:04 AM EST
    And all the information that link uncovers.

    I don't have a FB and and right now there is no link between me and my mug on the internet.  Wouldn't mind keeping it that way.

    Parent

    I got at least one floating around... (none / 0) (#15)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:48:20 AM EST
    out there in cyberspace tied to my name...but in my defense, I had to do it to collect my WSOP seat back in 2006...so at least I don't come cheap! ;)

    Parent
    if you have ever (none / 0) (#21)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:59:07 AM EST
    Had a friend post your picture and tag you, if you've ever posed for a photo in a community event, if you've ever been a nember of a church or library group and had your pictute taken, there's a good chance your name and face are connected out in cyberspace.

    Besides, law enforcement can just pull up your driver's license if thet need it.

    Parent

    yea i've been (none / 0) (#23)
    by CST on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 12:05:42 PM EST
    google-able since before facebook existed.

    I'm actually slightly less google-able now because this other girl with my name is now all over the web.

    But I have an uncommon name and one summer internship I had produced a document that includes my name and photo.  Also a school I went to did the same thing.

    I wrote off the whole privacy thing a while ago.

    Parent

    yes you are! (none / 0) (#8)
    by cpinva on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:30:20 AM EST
    You're out there already....

    for humanity's sake, i beg you to stop!

    Parent

    How do you know (none / 0) (#10)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:34:00 AM EST
    I'm not looking at you right now?  Hmmmmm?

    Parent
    And when your partner is in the hospital (5.00 / 0) (#32)
    by Peter G on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 07:50:16 PM EST
    and you need to access their computer, on their behalf, using the password they'd like to share with you? Or when a parent needs to access a child's data, for their protection?  What is most fundamentally wrong with this idea is that it presumes a world of one against all, in all cases, under all circumstances.  That's not how I live, love, or believe.

    Have it (none / 0) (#1)
    by koshembos on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 07:30:07 AM EST
    My laptop has such software used only for login. It is easy to see how it applies to applications and services. It is slow, quite crude and somewhat unreliable.

    In several years, any unique identification will be more precise and faster. I am not particularly worried about circumventing the privacy and security issues. It's not an issue for most people. For more sensitive access extra measures can be easily applied.

    The government has access to this technology for quite a while. Preventing it from invading private lives is political and not technical.

    Ewwwww (none / 0) (#2)
    by jbindc on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08:06:44 AM EST
    I, for one, do not want to see the person ahead of me in line at Target "flashing their hidden tats or scars".

    Speaking of keeping things private!

    Fingerprint Readers (none / 0) (#3)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 09:13:34 AM EST
    The technology is already is use and in built into may laptops, not sure of the degree of accuracy, but surely a user name and fingerprint would be as secure as the password system is.

    Facial recognition is unnecessary, a computer does not need to see your face to recognize you.  And many people, like myself have zero tattoos and no scars that would not require me dropping my pants every time I visit TL, that is if knee scope scars are distinctive enough.  So that idea wouldn't work for me and as JB mentioned, the technology would be integrated outside of the home, hopefully.

    The next technology, and the one iPhone users were hoping for on the last release, is RFID chips integrated into your phone that can be turned off and programed with a lot of information.  They are coming to phones soon.  LINK

    And of course those chips can be implanted into humans, like pets.

    Workers at the organized crime division of Mexico's Attorney General in Mexico City, for example, wear the chips to try to maintain top security.

    So do about 2,000 patrons of nightclubs in Barcelona, Spain, and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The chips allow them to avoid long waits in lines and to even run tabs at the clubs, which are owned by the same firm. Waiters scan the chips and a computer automatically draws the amount due from their checking accounts. LINK



    Sorry but this cause a minor gag reflex (none / 0) (#18)
    by BTAL on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:43:29 AM EST
    would not require me dropping my pants
     ;-)

    Parent
    and what would happen (none / 0) (#9)
    by fishcamp on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:31:32 AM EST
    to the Hollywood types who keep getting facelifts?

    saw Joan rivers on some monring show yesterday (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by ruffian on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 10:35:12 AM EST
    they should use her as the test case for facial recognition software.

    Parent
    Or Dolly Parton, sadly (none / 0) (#17)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 11:41:32 AM EST


    Parent
    Simple solutions to complex problems (none / 0) (#31)
    by vicndabx on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 06:03:35 PM EST
    Use one or two hard to guess passwords.  E.g. at least 8 characters, a combination of letters and numbers, uppercase, maybe a weird character like !@#$%^, etc. for all sites and such and the problem of multiple passwords to remember goes away.

    Facial Recognition May Replace Online Passwords | 32 comments (32 topical)