# Ep 246: Bypassing Fingerprint Readers is Easy, Killing Memory Chips is Hard, Cell Phones vs Sperm

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2023-12-01
- Length: 1h 17m
- Episode: 246
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-phones-vs-sperm

## Summary

Hosts Elliot Williams and Dan Maloney discuss bypassing Windows Hello fingerprint sensors by exploiting implementation flaws in the Secure Device Connection Protocol, including switching to Linux mode or using trivial USB hacks. They cover a project creating a self-destructing flash drive that fails to reliably kill memory chips despite high-voltage attempts, and a binary G-code format proposal from Prusa designed to compress data and reduce baud rate bottlenecks. The episode also features a recap of a meteor sound analysis by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, a large-scale passive balancing PCB for 18650 cells, and a repurposed 3D printer used as an automated wristwatch cleaner.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p#t=1) Introduction: Solar Storms and Show Notes
- [4:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p#t=249) What's That Sound: Mystery Audio Identification
- [5:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p#t=300) Bypassing Windows Hello Fingerprint Sensors
- [10:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p#t=643) Harvard's Amos Project: Meteor Sound Analysis
- [22:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p#t=1339) Passive Balancing PCB for 18650 Cells
- [30:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p#t=1817) Repurposing 3D Printers as Watch Cleaners
- [35:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p#t=2124) Binary G Code Format Proposal
- [46:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p#t=2766) Self-Destructing Flash Drive Failure
- [54:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p#t=3269) Quick Hacks: Rain Meter and CRTs
- [1:02:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p#t=3772) AI Art Provenance and Cell Phone/Sperm Study

## Topics

- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Windows Hello (product)
- Secure Device Connection Protocol (other)
- Prusa (company)
- 18650 (chip)
- Harvard (company)
- Avi Loeb (other)
- Amos Project (product)
- Tektronix (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with MG (Mike Grover)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-12-an-interview-with-mg-mike-grover) (The Amp Hour)
- [071 - Snerd Niped](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2024-09-07-071-snerd-niped) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [117: In as Much as Which](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-09-117-in-as-much-as-which) (Embedded.fm)
- [039 - Changing the Nature of Reality](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-09-13-039-changing-the-nature-of-reality) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [058 - Technically Met the Specs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2022-06-15-058-technically-met-the-specs) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-12-01-ep-246-bypassing-fingerprint-readers-is-easy-killing-memory-chips-is-hard-cell-p. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Hackaday Podcast.