Although I agree with the idea being silly on a Bitcoin forum the idea of our fingerprints being sensitive is also a silly one. You leave your fingerprints all over where you go on a daily basis. Yet you are not worried about it are you? Its an extreme example but there has already been examples of those with Bitcoin being targeted for their fingerprints. Using your fingerprint for anything is a stupid way to access anything and only belongs in james bond movies and teenagers phones.
I totally agree. I am sure it is possible to lift someone's fingerprint and create some kind of prosthesis with a 3D printer. Although fingerprints have an advantage since they are unique to each individual, (even identical twins have different fingerprints,) I don't think it is feasible to start expecting people to wear gloves everywhere they go as a way to keep their fingerprints "secure." Using a fingerprint as a way to access accounts is about as secure as writing your password on a sticky and sticking it on your computer monitor.
This is why it is only safe to use biometrics as an access medium when using a device that can protect against these types of attacks.
A website relying on third party devices to transmit fingerprint data is not going to work. However verifying fingerprint information locally will be much more secure.
As an FYI, it is not trivial to replicate a fingerprint so that it reasonably appears the same on a fingerprint scanner. What is much easier is transmitting the data from a fingerprint scanner showing the fingerprint is the same.
This is already possible if you have an iPhone.
All you have to do is login to the forum using your password from your phone, and tell your iPhone to save your password. Your password will be saved to your keychain and when you access the login screen in the future, you will be prompted to use your saved password, and if you want to, you will be prompted to use your touch id to access your saved passwords in your keychain.
And in this case you can use the fingerprint safely, because when you use the touch ID, your fingerprints won't leave the iphone, it will just check them to give access to the password manager (at least, this is the Apple communication
) So they won't let any 3rd party app access the digital version of the fingerprint stored on the device (only the 3 letter government agencies
)
When you consent to a background check at most employers, you will have your fingerprints taken and transmitted to the FBI to cross reference against arrest records.
Also you leave your fingerprints ~everywhere, and the government could trivially get them by just following you around a little bit.