so much for the worthless fingerprint scanner

I got my Compal HEL80 from Powernotebooks.com about 1 month ago and registered my index fingers on both hands. Well my little step-brother thought the fingerprint scanner was cool and always wanted to play with it when it went to screensaver and required my fingerprint/password to log back in. Well he's seen me do it enough times and played with it enough times himself to watch how I swiped my finger. I came home from work and he was on my pc and he said it read his fingerprint, so I had him show me and he can get it to read his everytime just like mine. I guess it isn't accurate enough to tell between fingerprints just what part of the finger you use or something. I'm gonna take it off, does anyone know how to disable it?

 

The same way you enabled it? I believe you would just do it in the Omnipass software.

That being said, do you two have similar fingerprints? How similar? I'd be very interested in seeing why this happened. Perhaps a portion of his fingerprint was pretty close to another portion of yours? Or just that the settings are so low on the Omnipass matching to keep you from being locked out that false positives are possible. Any way to up the detection rigidity?

 

I have a fingerprint scanner also and configured it with my two index fingers. One day I used my middle finger and to my surprise, it went through. I disabled it since.

 

I'll look at the options and see if there's a way to turn up the settings or something but I think I still want to just disable it altogether. I looked at his finger next to mine and there's obvious differences in our fingerprints, they aren't similar enough to where I think it should be accepting his to let him on my computer. Having a fingerprint scanner wasn't what sold me on the HEL80 and I was always wary of how worthwhile it was having or how accurate they were, I guess now I know.

 

I don't know about you, but my fingerprints are nearly identical on my middle and index fingers. What do you people expect from this? It's not some kind of magic. It takes a picture of your finger, and compares it to other pictures it knows are of your finger. If that comparison isn't close enough, then it won't let you log on. But it needs to account for dust on the lens, a slightly off-kilter fingerprint scan, different rotations, etc., and still do it very fast. It's not foolproof, but it's still better than a weak password. Couple it with a password, and you're nearly 100% secure. The best security comprises of something you know (password) and something you have (USB token, or in this case, your finger). Neither by itself is very good, and you're just running into the edge cases of this technology.

 

software is configured to use your fingerprint in place of your passwords. i wonder if it's possible to get it to use the behavior you describe. that could be kinda useful...

fantastic story though. my laughing is affecting my ability to type.

 

I have written Softex Omnipass software company with a link to this thread asking them to comment on why this is happening, and what can be done to correct it.

I will bring their reply back and post it here.

 

Thanks Donald

 

After reading this post I tried all my fingers. Only the two I registered with the software worked. Not sure if I have my settings stricter than yours.

David

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Amazing response time from Softex

I have already had three email exchanges with them this morning, and I only emailed them last night.

[Edit] Please read my post #13 later in this thread for directions on how to get support [end Edit]

They did make some suggestions:

"...[Omnipass] will prevent someone from logging on to your specific windows account if the Authentication rules are set for that. But if you have omnipass installed on your system and you actualy do not have a password for windows logon, then all a user has to do is simply hit enter and they have access to all your passwords and windows logon because Omnipass uses your windows logon password as your master password and since that would be blank, simply hitting enter will enter a null key. In the 2.0 series you have the option for either or meaning you can use either the fingerprint OR the master password.

In newer versions our drivers have changed which we received from Authentec and the FARS are set higher in newer drivers and newer dll files.

So again, it all depends on your version of omnipass and your atual system setup."

So, the first thing I would recommend is spend some time reading the manual (I know we all hate to read manuals, but the use of the fingerprint scanner is not intuitive, so some training is required).

Then, if you are still having issues, contact your dealer's tech support. Then, if you are still having issues, email [email protected]

 

Thanks for the help, but I still think I would rather just stay old fashioned and type in a password like I've always done. I might look into it some more one day if I'm in the mood.

 

UPDATE from Softex.

Now they say they will not do level 1 support for Compal models. Therefore you will need to go to your dealer's tech support for any help.

BUT...Please read the manual first

 

2nd UPDATE from Softex.

I talked to one of the Vice Presidents at Softex who clarified how they would like to see support handled:

1. Read the manual and make sure you are set up properly.
2. If you still have issues contact your dealer's tech support first to make certain that the issue is with the software. Then, if you still have issues...
3. email [email protected] for further support identifying that you have either a Compal HEL80 or HGL30 with Omnipass Version 4.00.32

Softex Omnipass has over 9 million satisfied users, so if you are having issues they can certainly be addressed and resolved.

ENJOY!

 

Thank you Donald for going to the trouble to help out all the HEL80 owners who are having trouble with their fingerprint scanners.

I'm personally not having any problems with my fingeprint scanner, but it's always reassuring to know that you're there to help out where you can .

 

the funny thing is if someone wants to get into your machine that badly they can find one of your prints, scan it ,print it off an run the paper over the print reader on your lappy.... an yes it works i tried it last night LOL

 

They can also duct tape you to a bed in your sleep and refuse to let you up until you provide the typed password... evil people could even stick your hand in warm water and run waterfall sounds in the background

Thankfully, the fact that "any" security is there is enough to either keep-out or dis-interest most evil people such as those that would do the above...

I personally just use the fingerprint scanner because its faster in general, and it doesn't jumble keys because it types to fast *not saying I or anyone does this *

 

the cold dry winter has cracked and dried my fingers to the point that the fingerprint reader doesn't recognize them... . good thing i never chose to have the "hard log on" security employed.

 

Mythbusters did a little something on bypassing fingerprint scanners. They did cheap USB-types all the way up to one that was touted as "undefeatable". They all were in the end.

Ouch. As much as I hate humidity, that's one thing I don't miss--the harsh cold and dry of other areas. Take care of that finger.