On Tue, 25 Apr 2017 19:39:21 +1000, "Rod Speed"
wrote:

Brian Gaff wrote
This should all really be a thing of the past by now. we should find some
biometric way to do it instead.

We have already with fingerprints and iris scans.

The problems with biometric access - apart from the willingness of
some criminals to cut off a finger or gouge out an eye - are to do
with crossing borders of unfriendly states. For unfriendly, you might
even include your own, regardless of where you live. Most civilised
nations require some sort of judicial process to demand a password but
case law in the UK and elsewhere has determined that there is no such
protection for your biometrics. They can slam your finger down on the
screen and if the phone opens up, bingo! Most business travellers -
those that aren't given "clean" electronic devices by their companies
for their trips anyway - are advised to disable the biometric features
of any device when using it abroad.

Here's The Register's guide to taking electronic devices to the US
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/0...n_entering_us/
be sure to read page 2.


Nick