Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
Has anyone successfully modded a CF-18 to add a fingerprint reader? I've seen the page for the CF-19 OEM fingerprint reader install, but of course the CF-18 doesn't have that reader-ready spot in the front like the CF-19.
I've tried searching for some devices that look like they might have the potential for hacking down
- http://www.silexamerica.com/products/biometrics/
- http://www.silexamerica.com/products/biometrics/combo_mini.html
- http://www.digitalpersona.com/index.php?id=embedded_hardware [a smaller version is available if you order enough units]
- http://www.google.com/products/cata...nt+reader&cid=12848950824545085531&sa=title#p
- http://www.google.com/products/cata...nt+reader&cid=11947146169454878558&sa=title#p
Silex has a PCMCIA fingerprint reader with a retractable sensor, but I think opening and closing the PCMCIA door would get old fast. From an outside view, while there are blank areas on the front (to the right of the power switch), side (OEM GPS antenna location), and rear (where the serial port is located on a touchscreen version), all would require some degree of modification. In looking at the unit from the inside, the only location that looks even close to feasible is the GPS antenna spot.
Anyway, just wondering if someone has ever attempted this....
Thank you,
Matthew
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Hey all,
As far as the readers themselves, I found some on eBay for $10 including the top cover off of an HP mini laptop. eBay 270419374979 . I also got 2 Lightscribe DL DVD drives (330341729378) for $20 each.
He didn't have anymore listed, but he has over 3,900 parts that I went through page by page. Found a LOT of good stuff for $10 and under. Get a look at him. User ID ibuyselllaptops and he's in MA, fairly close to me. If I remember right, the specs I found said they were .7" by 1.5" but don't quote me. He also has the 'Mini' cameras and assemblies.
Beau -
hmmmmmm...Retinal sanning Toughbook.....heheeheeh I think I feel a week of obsession coming on :GEEK:
I could fit it next to the Toughbook logo on the CF-18...Scanner on one side, Camera on the other... hmmmm
I actually have a high end fingerprint scanner on my desktop for my encrypted files ONLY. It is a full fingerprint scanner, and reads infrared body heat at the same time it scans. It needs a 5 point match (better than some NCIC matches) at it's lowest setting and goes up to a 10 point match. It takes a minimum of 10 'test' scans to train (15+ reccomended) and will only allow it to be turned on if you have at least 3 seperate fingers on file. The scanner has an override with a password, but it stores it using AES encryption inside the program, if you choose to use it (It warns you some 10 times to use it). BTW - unless you ARE james bond, you DON'T NEED this kind of security. I found this at a HAMfest (Auction for HAMs) for $20 (Over $250 new right now). This is ONLY for my encrypted files on my home computer. The REASON that I have this is because I have a LOT of personal information on that computer. I have helped write SOPs and Town Pre-plans for Fire/Emergency Management. As well as the Database and front-end prorgram for the Phone Numbers to ALL residents in town (Listed or not) as well as any limitations/physical disabilities that would require assistance in an evacuation (we are 10 nautical miles from a nuclear power station). I also have the State Point of Dispensing Protocols, etc... I protect this data at ALL costs. If I can't scan or make it past the password, the files are useless. I have it set so that at 10 mis-attempts it locks for 24 hours. 5 times of this, and the system shreds the files (Electronically). I can't for the life of me remember the name of it right now, but if anyone is interested I can take a look for it. (It may take a few days as I am in the process of re-arranging my workspace and my Desktop is a little buried
)
Anyway, just had to add my $0.02... and yes I agree 99% of the scanners are USELESS, but I have a friend who asked if I could mod one into an 18 (Like thier is a TON of room after he wantes me to add GPS, BT2.1+EDR, a HAM TNC, and Fingerprint scanner) hmmm... a CF-18 with all of that you say?? He did say he's willing to loose the PCMCIA, which opens up the USB connection on the PCMCIA connectors, but we'll have to see... Can you say EXPENSIVE mod!?!?!?!?!?
SO, I do keep meaning to ask, what's the best bit to cut through the Magnesium Alloy case??? I have a few Diamond bits, but they are DAMN expensive.
Beau -
VERY true... Hahahaha Most people only think about electronic access to a computer by a hacker, not physical access. I will say that the reason that I have chosen to use AES is because of the strength of the encryption. It's not impossible to crack, but a brute force attack would see the end of mankind before it would be cracked, even with the top (current) super computers. It's actually one of the encryption algorithms that were designed specifically for this type of security. AGAIN you are right in that there are two weak links.
ONE = Physical access. For me, I am disabled and home 99% of the time, and I have a Smith & Wesson security system. .40 and 9mm actually. MY wife's security system is her 12g Mossberg. (She prefers shotgun sports over handgun, although she is Rangemaster Qualified in Shotgun, Rifle, and Handgun). I pity the poor fool who picks our house, of course he'd have to be an idiot since I am up most of the night, and everyone else if up the rest of the time. I only average about 3-4 hours of sleep during the night and it's NEVER the same time. Anyway,
TWO = PASSWORD!!! Most people pick waaaaaaaaay to simple passwords and they use common names or terms. (May favorite is 'password' and 'delllaptopD610' I love it when I get these kinds of passwords as I know I get to spend ALL kinds of quality time explaining to my customer why that's almost as bad as having it on a sticky note on the monitor
(Don't laugh!! I've seen it soooo often.) Or a small composition book that has 'PASSWORDS' written in the Subject area. :confused2: I always as 'so why bother to have a password? (I have one customer who absolutely refuses to use anything except 'abc123' or '123454321'. It took me an hour to get him to use the second one (It was just 12345) My passwords meet strong encryption guidelines as they are between 12 & 18 char long, uses letters, numbers, & symbols, and is not a dictionary word). It's actually a password that written out a spellchecker would freak-out and just quit over
Most people think of passwords as an annoyance, and should just be avoided. 99% of my customers have their computers boot straight to a desktop by entering their password into the registry file (DOOOOOH!!!
)
Please don't misunderstand, I know that my data is not 100% safe, but it's safer than most. Like I mentioned, I have a shredder program set to the sensitive files on my box. Other than that, I keep NO cc number, passwords, on-line accounts, or ANYTHING that I wouldn't want a hacker in Russia to have. I also have dual redundant RAID systems sitting on the network are 100% AES encrypted. These are Linux boxes that house them (more secure and less likely to be infected - but not impossible!) On top of that they are on a different subnet that cannot be seen by coming in through the router, only if you are on the inside LAN can you see them. (I have a 'fake' server sitting out in the DMZ with trash and ghost data on it). I used to do security and penetration testing for fortune 500 companies (Can't use names, but I Guarantee if you look around your office you will see at LEAST 6 of them).
My experience is one of the reasons that I work to keep it secure. ANY HIGHLY sensitive data is secured in a safe on hard copy only. It DOES NOT stay on the computer. I take ZERO chances with some things. I also have (usually) up to 6-10 months of hard copy DVD back-ups (Full & Incremental). Just remember... Just because your PARANOID, doesn't mean that they AREN'T REALLY OUT TO GET YOU!!!
Beau
Remember to HAVE FUN.... otherwise you might as well call it WORK...
BTW... Dwagon, did I read that you are expecting the click/clack of little claws coming your way again?? Congrats!!! I just saw a 2 week old at the bank today and it reminded me of how small my soon to be 7 year old used to be. She is growing up WAAAAAAY too fast!!! This is going to be her 5th year on School starting 9/8!! (She goes to a Montessori school)... She's already getting in trouble for the boys chasing her! We had to have a talk about her kissing a boy during recess! (He's a good kid; they have been friends since they were three). I still might have to rub him out though..... How old are yours??
Beau -
I use a carbide Dremel bit and it moves the magnesium very well. I now do this in front of my shop vac system so that there are no little magnesium dust particles floating around to land back in the laptop or in lungs!
You also must watch out for sparks... Not from cutting or grinding the magnesium but from other sources landing on the stuff you grind off. If you have a pile of shavings and a spark gets on it... IT WILL burn until it stops... Nothing will stop that. And it burns VERY hot. Be careful when trimming it!
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The true nature of computer security is the same as most other forms of security - it is NOT an attempt to STOP would-be villains (You can't STOP someone if they're motivated enough, just think of every episode of A-Team and MacGyver you ever saw)
but rather to slow them down; either to such point that they cannot obtain their objective without being caught, or that they grow frustrated and move on to easier targets.
As you have noted above... hacking the hardware is usually much harder than hacking the software... which in turn, is usually much harder than hacking the wetware. Now which one do you suppose the TRULY experienced hack is going to attack first?
The bugger with all that encryption is the software; M$ OSes notoriously manage their memory poorly and with ZERO SECURITY (and your LINUX derivatives DO have their own weaknesses there TOO, so don't cackle too loudly); I can almost GUARANTEE that somewhere on your HDD reside non-encrypted cache files (which may not even be currently connected to an active FAT, but can still be read from as a binary) which contain or have contained EVERY PASSWORD you ever used on it.
This of course means the same thing; by hacking that weakness in the software, one is actually hacking the wetware - taking advantage of the laziness/incompetence/poor organization/etc of the FALLIBLE HUMAN BEINGS who wrote the OS to begin with.
As for the clickety-tickety of little clawed feet - yeah. It's wonderful and infuriating all at the same time... Marcus turns 2 in October, so it's all still brand new to me. I'm still hoping for a widdle gurl dwagon to have daddy wrapped around her little finger; but mommy has informed me that "the baby factory is now CLOSED" so wish me luck.
mnem
Even paranoids have enemies. -
When out and about, I prefer to use the convertible CF-18/19's (digitizer) it slate mode. Usage is not necessarily constant. When logging in and/or unlocking it, I'm not always in a situation where I can readily pop the latch, lift the screen, rotate the Toughbook to a manageable typing position, free both hands to type the strong password, and then reverse that whole process to get back to my prior slate mode setup.
Matthew -
It's supposedly been tried, though I haven't heard any more since the initial round of news....
Employees Sue for Unpaid Windows Vista Overtime - "A series of lawsuits have been brought against major US companies by staff claiming unpaid overtime based on the time it takes Windows Vista to start up and shut down.
...
The crux of the issue is the fact that some companies have connected time-keeping systems to their PCs.
These systems are not activated until the user logs in, which is taking up to 15 minutes after the machine running Windows Vista has been turned on thanks to the long boot cycle. This means staff are in the office or shop but not officially working until they've logged in"
Follow the link for the complete hoot.
Fingerprint Reader Mod on a CF-18?
Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by rcx, Aug 24, 2009.
