Brendan Hughes

Maybe this is already done in the UK. But I was quite surprised to see a fingerprint scanner at a Portuguese fuel station at the weekend - something I haven't yet seen/heard of.

Seems that you have to associate some sort of payment card, then you scan your fingerprint AND enter a code - much as how you swipe a card and then enter a code. Odd thing is though, you can't (I hope!) lose your fingerprint!! I suppose this just means they don't trust the scanner yet.

Link in Portuguese:

http://www.galpenergia.com/Galp+Ener...galpbiopay.htm

Developed by accenture, I see:

For example, at Galp Energia, Portugal’s leading energy company, we developed and implemented Galp BioPay, a payment system based on a customer’s biometric identification—in this case, his or her fingerprint. Galp’s gas station network is the first in the world to use this type of payment system, which is dramatically reducing customer transaction times, as well as preventing card identity theft and other costly forms of fraud.

OllyK

The problem with biometric checking is if somebody is prepared to takes things to a rather unpleasant level (as per demolition man). This issue was raised a long time back and these scanners need to (if they don't already) check for temperature and pulse as well.

sonicsbro

How will it know which Debit/Credit Card to take the money from ;-)
...or can you program a different finger for each card and scan whichever finger/card takes your fancy on that particular day!

Soulgirl

LOL - interesting concept though

Brendan Hughes

Olly, I get your point generally. But in this case, chopping off someone's finger for a tank of fuel seems a little excessive - and you'd think that the assistant might notice, as it's right under his nose on the cash counter (rather than, say, outside by the pump).

hedgehog

As others have said the whole problem with biometrics is that you can't ever change your password. In todays IT world, for example, there are very few companies or systems with any security savvy who would allow you to keep your password without changing it.

You can't change your finger print, once someone cracks it what do you do then? I doubt if it is impossible to crack and replicate a finger print even without having to hack things off with a knife.

Brendan Hughes

Assuming it's a lot of work to hack it, please remember most people still have another 9 fingers... Seems all the above is for is to negate the need to carry a plastic card. As said, you still need a PIN.