Most of the thinkpads come with an integrated fingerprint reader from UPEK.This artilcle explains the way in which the integrated finger print reader can be enabled on major distros running on Thinkpad SystemsNote:All the Major Linux distros can be configured in a similar fashion,the only difference arises when we have to evoke the Admin previlages in the terminal to update/ or to install additional patches from the central repositories.Opensource Drivers for Ubuntu:Opensource Drivers are available from Launpad.net.These are said to be more stable than the propriteary ones from UPEK. More instructions are available at theProprietery Drivers from UPEK (For thinkpad systems only):Upek these Fingerprint Packages which are not opensource. The following Distributions are supported.1)Fedora2)Ubuntu3)Mandriva4)DebianThe Zip file obtained from the site contain the pre-compiled binary files which can be executed to configure them.Note:The links will take you out of the Lenovo forums site. The proprietary license agreement for my x220t fingerprint reader was absolutely unacceptible.They were basically threatening to eat not only eat my kittens, but everyone's kittens forever and ever if I so much as even attempted to use their software for more than a week.I like my kittens, but I am also very curious. I had to try the software, at least for a minute.And I swiped my finger, and it felt so very good, but also very bad.I realized I could not live with the blood of an entire kitten genocide on my fingertips, so I disabled, wiped the fingerprint data and uninstalled the software.And no, there wasn't actually any part of the license that explicitly mentioned kittens, but it really was one of the most threatening and monsterous user agreements I have ever read. They reserved the right to not only to keep your fingerprint data, but also to share it with third parties as they saw fit under rather vague and terse terms.To add to my concern, it also turns out to be abandonware since the manufacturer for mine (Authentec I do believe) was acquired by apple. Before that, UPEK was acquired by Authentec.Please, my friends, do be careful.
Fingerprint readers are already a conveniently creeepy liability.For an example: (assuming I were to use a friendlier non-kitten-eating software package)Let's say I get the most out of my fingerprint reader and I use lots of my little fingertips to replace lots of my passwords. Time goes on and I forget some of my passwords, but I don't really notice because I've still got my fingertips.Then one fateful day I burn my thumb on a hot muffin-tin and I can no longer remember what password I used for my login! I can't boot up my computer until my thumbprint comes back! The humanity!I do a lot of silly, crafty crap and repairs on things, and occasionally do actually cut, burn, maim and otherwise permanently deform my fingertips on accident. There are plenty of ways of inputting a password, but not so many ways of swiping a fingerprint. (unless you decide to use one of many documented security flaws to attack it)Also, the link provided under the word 'Provides' ( in the original post goes to a very nasty place. Is there any way to remove that link?
ubuntu Fingerprint reader - Ubuntu Forums Fedora 11 is supposed to have some sort of fingerprint support, but again if the device isnt supported. B00gieMan Active Member. Mar 3, 2009 #6.