Elimination of Foreground and Background Username/Password Technologies

Question

Level 1

12 points

Elimination of Foreground and Background Username/Password Technologies

I need to permanently eliminate all 1940's era legacy username/password technologies from all of my Apple products including MacBook, Mac mini, iPad, Apple Watch, and iPhone. Anything that requires a "username" or a "password" is obsolete and should no longer be used for any purpose. That means no username/password in the background behind the face recognition or fingerprints, no passwords may be used to set it up, use it day to day, or entered as part of some other tech. If nobody can figure out any solutions, then I will create something new.

Thanks.

Mac mini (2023 with M2)

Posted on Feb 17, 2023 12:40 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

IdrisSeabright

Community+ 2026

Level 10

190,011 points

Feb 17, 2023 12:46 PM in response to deadmau4

deadmau4 wrote:

That means no username/password in the background behind the face recognition or fingerprints, no passwords may be used to set it up, use it day to day, or entered as part of some other tech. If nobody can figure out any solutions, then I will create something new.

That is not possible with Apple's current technology. Biometric data (face or fingerprint) is stored on the device in a "Secure Enclave" that cannot be accessed until you have turned on the device and logged in. That's why you need to use the password when looking into your iPhone or Mac after having restarted it.

Do feel free to create your own technology that doesn't have this limitation.

Reply

Answer 2

deadmau4 Author

Level 1

12 points

Feb 17, 2023 5:49 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Thanks. Sounds like the reason this World War 2 tech never evolved is because nobody cared? All this time people just assumed that legacy username/password tech is unavoidable? No other possible way? Even fingerprint and face recognition is backed by WW2 tech? Maybe there’s no market for anything else because everyone loves username/password tech. Pretty sure Secure Enclave is a hash store with multiple client types including username/password, face recognition, and fingerprint but only username / password can be used to create the initial hash and only Apple could change that. Just thinking thru it. Thanks again, will research Secure Enclave.

Reply

Answer 3

Feb 17, 2023 6:47 PM in response to deadmau4

I’m sure that Apple … who is an active and participating member in the FIDO Alliance … is well aware of what’s required for implementing the password-less future.

Cryptologically based strong authentication would be a no-brainer … if not for the sheer inertia of an entire planet full of legacy authentication systems.

Reply

Elimination of Foreground and Background Username/Password Technologies

Similar questions