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Mainpassword versus fingerprint auth

  • 2 uphendule
  • 1 inale nkinga
  • 154 views
  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu Chris

Chris
Chris
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Hi,

on my laptop and on my android phone I use fingerprint readers as auth methods which is very convenient. Can I replace the main password from firefox with auth via fingerprint readers? On both mobile and desktop (win) versions?

Cheers, Chris

Hi, on my laptop and on my android phone I use fingerprint readers as auth methods which is very convenient. Can I replace the main password from firefox with auth via fingerprint readers? On both mobile and desktop (win) versions? Cheers, Chris

Isisombululo esikhethiwe

On mobile you can no longer use a Primary Password with current releases (with 68 this was possible), so there is only the option to use OS authentication (fingerprint) and that is easier, but less secure. On desktop you can use a Primary Password as this is safest as the passwords in logins.json are encrypt using the PP, so if you forget the PP then you lose your logins. If you use OS authentication then merely access to logins.json and key4.db is sufficient to access the passwords (i.e. you depend on Windows for security). On Windows and Mac you can use OS authentication if you leave the PP blank and set the pref on about:config that controls this feature to true.

  • signon.management.page.os-auth.enabled = true

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can click the button to "Accept the Risk and Continue".

Funda le mpendulo ngokuhambisana nalesi sihloko 👍 1

All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Isisombululo Esikhethiwe

On mobile you can no longer use a Primary Password with current releases (with 68 this was possible), so there is only the option to use OS authentication (fingerprint) and that is easier, but less secure. On desktop you can use a Primary Password as this is safest as the passwords in logins.json are encrypt using the PP, so if you forget the PP then you lose your logins. If you use OS authentication then merely access to logins.json and key4.db is sufficient to access the passwords (i.e. you depend on Windows for security). On Windows and Mac you can use OS authentication if you leave the PP blank and set the pref on about:config that controls this feature to true.

  • signon.management.page.os-auth.enabled = true

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can click the button to "Accept the Risk and Continue".

Chris
Chris Umnikazi wombuzo
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Hi cor-el,

thanks for your explanation!

Cheers, Chris