Touch ID and other fingerprint scanning technologies are wonderfully convenient additions to our smartphones that enable easy mobile payments and quick device unlocking. However, Elliot Williams at HackADay has written a thought-provoking essay explaining why you should never rely on Touch ID in lieu of using a password on your device, no matter how convenient it is.
First, Williams acknowledges the obvious: Passwords are terrible and they’re not all that secure. But as much as we may hate passwords, he argues that relying on Touch ID for mobile security is a much worse option. There are many reasons for this and the most obvious one is that your fingerprints are not some unique secret that’s difficult to come by.
