Has anyone here had success with USB fingerprint scanners?
I also found this Microsoft keyboard with fingerprint reader but I don't know if it works with linux.
It's a shame that that the list doesn't translate well into "what device can I go out and buy"? Every shitty manufacturer has to constantly churn design changes, and hide it all behind the exact same model number.
I use the DigitalPersona 4500 with libfprint. Unfortunately, there are multiple revisions of the device with the same model number and only some of them work properly under Linux (different encryption method I believe). As far as I know this is not actually documented anywhere. Googling just shows a bunch of unresolved bug reports of people having no idea why it doesn't work.
Almost every one of the fingerprint sensors in laptops are not supported by Linux due to proprietary protocols. Never managed to get stuff used by Dell or HP with Linux.
But the Grow R503 can be used over uart, what can be connected to usb with some minor additional parts.
That sucks so much. I have such a cool vein scanner built in to unlock my laptop jedi style and I can't use it because Fujitsu decided to not add support for Linux 🙄
HP Zbook 15" G7 working out of the box but not great detection reliability (might be an unfortunate specimen). Lenovo Thinkpad T580 much better although not working out of the box on LMDE
For simple PC unlocking etc. they are perfectly fine and improve security due to their far higher usability.
The same way 10 key files on 10 different locations combined with this and that are more secure than a simple 60 character password. But the simple password is far more practical, so far more secure overall since people actually use it.
More secure legally. You generally can't be compelled to disclose a password that incriminates you (unless it's already apparent that you're guilty of wrong-doing) but a thing (physical key, fingerprint, etc) isn't protected in the same way and can be demanded by the court.
Whether biometric are secure or not is another question, they can be stolen like any other data or a motivated attacker could just take you or your fingers.