fingerprint external device
So I have a 2013 MBP that I use 99% as a desktop -- closed with external keyboard, mouse, and monitor. I'm tired of typing in my master password. My Android (Pixel 3) and Win10 laptop have fingerprint scanners that 1P recognizes. Does anyone know of an external device that I can use on my MBP?
Thanks.
1Password Version: 7.4.1
Extension Version: Not Provided
OS Version: 10.14.6
Sync Type: Not Provided
Referrer: forum-search:fingerprint external device
Comments
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@dmayo2 - a couple of things: you can't set 1Password to never require your Master Password, as it's what's used to derive the encryption key that protects your data. You need to enter your Master Password to decrypt the data, so although biometry is a wonderful convenience, it can't replace your Master Password entirely.
Apple also does things differently in iOS than the Android ecosystem, and differently in macOS than the Windows/PC world. Touch ID is - for now, anyway - the exclusive province of your Apple device(s) themselves; no 3rd party fingerprint or face scanners or any other form of biometry hardware is allowed to use the Touch/Face ID APIs.
What you can do, depending on your security needs and your usual work environment (you mentioned "desktop," which sounds to me like you use it in a stable environment such as your home or office) is experiment with the settings in 1Password > Preferences > Security, which allow pretty wide latitude for how frequently 1Password will lock (and therefore how often you'll be asked for your Master Password). Let us know if you have any questions.
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Thanks for the feedback.
Yes, stable environment (home office). I wasn't looking to replace my master password, but rather decrease the number of times I need to enter it on my MacOS. I figured that Apple wouldn't let any third party access its APIs to reach the T2 chip, but was hoping that 1P would recognize a little USB fingerprint scanner to unlock (and maybe need the full master password on system bootup or user log on).
Keep up the good work.0 -
@dmayo2 - I hear you; it's no fun having to enter your Master Password often, especially if you've followed our own advice to create a strong one. If it helps any, my own "main" device is a desktop iMac, which of course has no biometry of any kind, so I know what you're referring to in a very personal way. In the Apple ecosystem, though, all we can do is call the built-in biometry (Touch ID or Face ID) -- we make a call to that function, macOS/iOS handles the biometry, and returns us a yes/no result. That's it. Were we to try to adopt 3rd party biometry devices, those devices also wouldn't have access to the secure enclave on the T2 chip, which means we'd end up having to store your Master Password somewhere on disk, and that's just not something we're willing to do, for security reasons (at least, not as things stand currently). It's something we'll continue to evaluate as things move forward; who knows what kind of surprises Apple may have in store down the road?
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