is adding the integrated fingerprint reader yourself possible?

Sure it sounds ridiculous, but from the pics of the reader online, it looks as if its practically dropped in in place of the right speaker panel.

What complications are there in doing something like this?

 

Well, you'd need a new palmrest at the very minimum from what I know.

 

I guess your warranty would be gone as you would need to break it open or get a new palmrest ...

Trust me the fingerprint-reader is an overpriced item which isn't valueable in any way no matter how you look at it.

Classical passwords will be fine. Passwords can be changed - your fingerprint can't (unless you are cutting it off or burn your skin really badly).

 

Dell has a list of "Customer Self-Replaceable Parts".

Looks like you can't build it in yourself. Another "complication" might be feeling your data is safe although it isn't. It isn't very difficult to copy fingerprints, and you'll even likely leave samples of your own fingerprints on your laptop. Keep in mind that you shouldn't rely on fingerprint readers to protect anything. They must always be used in combination with other security solutions.

I would use a low-level encryption with pre-boot authentification system that makes use of the TPM of the M4400 and is based on a password and a smartcard. Can also be cheaper, as every M4400 already has a TPM and 2 smart card readers (contact and contact-less, don't use the contact-less one if you're concerned about security).
I'd say that a fingerprint reader won't add any significant security gain to that anymore, but you can still build one in to get a full three factor authentication (someting you are, something you have, something you know).

 

hahaha I always knew you were thorough, but this time, you're bedazzling me with more info than my brain can handle. What's a TPM? And what role do the smart card readers play here? Wouldn't it be a lot of work to cheat the reader even if my prints were found on the keyboard?

Perhaps I should just get one of those facial recognition programs that work for login like my Asus has.

I will use a traditional password too, but I had such a good experience with my old Toshiba's fingerprint reader that I'm tempted to install one for the convenience (yes, convenience with some decent security is what I'm going for). Plus, I'm not an MI6 or anything, I'm not sure encryption and multilayered security is really needed here.

This laptop won't be traveling often or far anyways, but I appreciate knowing you're here if I ever steal secrets from the government

 

I have one on the m6400, between all of the drivers and security add-ins, i have it disabled. It also would read every other fingerprint scan, not worth it. My password is 6 characters and typed pretty easily.

IMO, move along, nothing to see here!

 

No, it's definitely user replaceable, at least if it's anything like the Latitudes, which it should be. Unfortunately, I only have the parts list for the Latitudes at my disposal and can't find the Precision one, so you'll have to call Dell Spare Parts. Just explain to them that you want the right speaker grill with the fingerprint reader, and persist. Some of them will ask for service tag, etc. Just say that you want that specific part. Ideally, if they find the part #, plug it into google and see if you can find any pics to verify. You can just order it there, from the phone. Replacing it is pretty easy, see here.

 

A TPM is basically a piece of hardware within a computer that can make sure that certain parts of the computer have not been modified or tampered with.

This is all a bit more complex. There are two kinds of Smartcards, some Smartcards simply act as a storage, and some Smartcards are actually full computers. They get their power supply via their conectors, and communicate with the computer they are connected to. The latter ones can be used to securely store keys (think of them as passwords for now, otherwise it'd all become too bulky now), so securely that you won't even be able to know these keys youself, nor your computer nor anyone/anything else except for the smartcard itself (and yet it works, through cryptographic algorithms). This means that you need to have the smartcard to login to your computer, and the smartcard can't be copied that easily without having the right to do so.

TPMs can also fulfil this purpose of the smartcard, but they are built into the laptop anyways and therefore cannot be the "Something I have" object of a three factor authentication.

Low-level encryption means that nearly everything on your harddrive, even the operating system, will be encrypted, so that no one can simply take out the hard drive and read/modify it by building it into another computer. A special area on the harddisk will remain unencrypted, as it's needed to fire up the initial on-the-fly unencryption of the operating system (otherwise the operating system couldn't start up), and the TPM is there to make sure that you will recognize should someone for example take out the hard disk and modify the software on the unencrypted area of the harddisk.

There is no total security, attackers can always get in, it just depends on how much effort they are willing to spend on.

No. Actually, finding the prints is the hardest part. (I'm serious)

That's not very secure either. Some of these softwares will log you in if you just hold a photo of an authorized person in front of the camera.
Keep in mind that the fact that you don't use any tough security systems may already be a reason to make your computer a target.

Again, not using any encryption and things like that may already be a reason to make your computer a target. It makes it rather easy to compromise the computer, and therefore someone could simply do it without even having a clue if there's anything interesting for him beforehand.
If you're looking for a convenient way to keep out... uhm... "overly interested people", a fingerprint reader can indeed be a good choice for you. Just keep in mind that no one who really wants to get your data or compromise your copmputer will be stopped by a fingerprint reader.

It all depends on how much risk you want to have (and can have), which is something I of course cannot answer for you. And if you use very secure systems, you will have to also make the "software part" secure. (A fingerprint reader won't help you if you use old versions of webbrowsers with tons of security holes in them, for instance)

And I appreciate that you're about to learn (even before this sentence ends) that I won't support or perform any illegal actions. (Yes, I did get the joke. I just wanted to make clear that I don't do illegal things. I'm interested in security (not in breaking things!) to be able to help other people with security, and because security is an important part of IT in general.)

If anyone finds any mistakes inside this post, please point them out so I can correct them.

 

Hey, weird the fingerprint reader is not at all on the list of user replaceable parts ("Palmrests, chassis plastics" is listed as not replaceable by the user) although there is a manual for replacing it. Sorry, I should've looked for that manual too instead of just noticing that the fingerprint reader is not listed on the list of user replaceable parts.

 

You've baffled me once again that was even more thorough than the last one, hahaha! I'll keep this thread bookmarked for reference if the attempt at throwing in the reader fails and find the tuts on encryption, thanks again my genius German sidekick!