our networks
tlcanimal planetthe science channelmilitary channelthe health channel
site search
shop now
 

MythBusters

 
    Forums    MythBusters    MythBusters Episode Discussion    Crimes and Mythdemeanors II - Fooling the Fingerprint Scanner - Discuss It Here!

Moderators: mythmod
Go
New
Find
Tools
Reply
  
-star Rating Rate It!  Login/Join 
Moderator
Senior Member
Registered: 07-20-07
Posts: 2725
Posted   Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
Can you trick a fancy schmancy fingerprint scanner?

Talk About It Here!

MythMod
Junior Member
Registered: 05-14-08
Posts: 1
Posted   Hide PostEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
The idea that I am sending is one I have seen in the show CSI.Adam and Jamie were using super-glue fumes in a vacuum to let the fumes settle on the oil they copy.In other shows they actually heat the super-glue in order to reveal the finger prints..Also I they they should try and make some sort of latex finger print.There are gels that prints are made from.
Senior Member
Registered: 09-01-07
Posts: 2599
Posted   Hide PostEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
quote:
The idea that I am sending is one I have seen in the show CSI.Adam and Jamie were using super-glue fumes in a vacuum to let the fumes settle on the oil they copy.In other shows they actually heat the super-glue in order to reveal the finger prints.


Both work on the same principle. Heating super-glue or placing it in a vacuum both help fumes from the glue build up in the air to a concentration where they will stick to a print. Crime labs use the heating method because it is easier and can be used on objects from a match book to a car with minimal fuss. The vacuum method requires an air-tight chamber that the object can fit into - which for something the size of a car isn't practical - as well as potentially damaging the evidence you want to test - pressurized cans could fail in a vacuum chamber, which would destroy the evidence you have.

quote:
Also I they they should try and make some sort of latex finger print.There are gels that prints are made from.


They did this, this was exactly what they used to overcome the fingerprint scanner on the laptop. They also created a gel print for use on the scanner on the door lock, but they discovered that a photocopy of a print worked just fine.


I think this episode of MB should be required viewing for anyone touting biometric security systems, to show them how easy it is to bypass them. In fact this episode shows that if anything it is easier to bypass fingerprint scanners than 'primitive' key locks. You don't, after all, leave copies of a key on everything you touch for people to copy.
 Previous Topic | Next Topic powered by eve community  
 

    Forums    MythBusters    MythBusters Episode Discussion    Crimes and Mythdemeanors II - Fooling the Fingerprint Scanner - Discuss It Here!

 
advertisement
 
SITE SEARCH
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS
CREDITS DCL
DISCOVERY SITES Discovery Channel / TLC / Animal Planet / Discovery Health / Science Channel / Planet Green / Discovery Kids / Military Channel /
Investigation Discovery / Discovery Home / HD Theater / Turbo / FitTV / HowStuffWorks / TreeHugger / Petfinder / PetVideo / Discovery Education
VIDEO Discovery Channel Video Player
SHOP Toys / Games / Telescopes / DVD Sets / Planet Earth DVD Sets / Gift Ideas
CUSTOMER SERVICE Contact Us / Free Newsletters / RSS / Sitemap / TV FAQs
CORPORATE Discovery Communications, LLC / Advertising / Careers @ Discovery / Privacy Policy / Visitor Agreement
ATTENTION! We recently updated our privacy policy. The changes are effective as of Tuesday, October 30, 2007. To see the new policy, click here. Questions? See the policy for the contact information.