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Ask HN: I'm quadriplegic – can you help me with my security?

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Re: Ask HN: I'm quadriplegic – can you help me with my security?

#151

Post by peacetara »

You have a button you can push (#3 in your list above). So this means you are well on your way. You would need to create(or have created for you) a password app, that would open on startup, and prompt you for your password. Of course entering a password using a keyboard isn't so great, but since you have a button, you can ask for a certain set of button pushes, in a certain order. (Whatever works well for you).

i.e. you spell 'cat' in morse code with your one button. Or whatever. The important thing is that it's something YOU can do, and is likely not anymore easily guessed/caught than someone shoulder surfing someone typing the password on the keyboard.

That said.. I want to point out, you mention this is because you are worried about your PA's that are helping you with things maybe taking liberties you don't want them to. If you don't trust your PA's I think you should work on getting their trust (and vice versa), or look into replacing them with people you trust. If you need help with advocacy around this, reach out to your local Independent Living Center.

Good Luck!

Re: Ask HN: I'm quadriplegic – can you help me with my security?

#152

Post by escapologybb »

jnbiche wrote: post #67
DanBC wrote: post #15

Yubikey would work if you could mount it so that you can touch the touch-pad with your nose. I don't know if that's acceptable to you?

There is a Yubikey model that uses NFC called the NEO[1]. So it would operate simply by your being close to the computer. At the moment, the NFC only works with Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and Blackberry, but it might be able to be ported easily. I'm looking into how this might help you now (Yubikey has an SDK). You're on OSX, so let me see what I can come up with. No promises, but I'm looking. 1. http://www.yubico.…

I think as soon as they bring out some software on the Neo model that would be ideal, I'll definitely get in touch with them. Excellent find!

As for TokenLock, I downloaded the free trial and during the setup process my laptop locked up for apparently no reason; I had to have my partner stop at she was doing and come and restart the computer for me. Clearly not an ideal situation.

It really was a case of;

Download and install application Run through the setup process, which appeared to go flawlessly Read's helpful message that laptop will be locked when iPhone goes out of range … Laptop locks up as I'm reading the message, whilst my iPhone has sat resolutely still about 5 inches from my laptop!

That is a terrible level of reliability for me I'm afraid :-)

Re: Ask HN: I'm quadriplegic – can you help me with my security?

#153

Post by escapologybb »

ericfranklin wrote: post #102
snom380 wrote: post #80

Does DragonDictate still work if you switch users? If so, you could encrypt your home directory, add a second user, and set OSX to auto-login to that user (and auto-launch DragonDictate). If not, I think your best bet is a Bluetooth solution or some hardware token. For instance, an Arduino or Teensy ($20) programmed with your login/master password, and with a small microphone connected would be able to respond to cer…

If you are already logged in to an account with Dragon running, will it let you dictate into system password boxes (OS X Dictation does not when I tried it)? If so, having the computer auto-login on boot to a secondary account should accomplish what you need. Then dictate your password into the Fast user switching box. Otherwise, user switching can also be activated with Automator or Terminal. OS X Dictation will typ…

This is an excellent idea and something I'm going to implement immediately! It will certainly give me a level of security whilst I look at some hardware solutions, thanks :-)

Re: Ask HN: I'm quadriplegic – can you help me with my security?

#154

Post by escapologybb »

asselinpaul wrote: post #107

When you talked about the yubikey, it's actually not too hard to built a two factor token yourself. Using an arduino, you could wire it in a way that would be convenient for you to operate. http://lab.infoserver.com.br/wiki/index.php/Projects:arduino... https://github.com/damico/ARDUINO-OATH-TOKEN

I would love to be able to do these sorts of things, but anything that involves hardware would mean I would have to contract in a pair of hands.

And hands are not always a readily available resource, the people attached to them have like lives and other stuff to do; it's terribly inconvenient! :-)

I'm going to look into it though, thanks for the idea!

Re: Ask HN: I'm quadriplegic – can you help me with my security?

#155

Post by escapologybb »

robotmay wrote: post #61
escapologybb wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I had one of them, I would totally be able to pretend I'm in the SAS on some secret mission!:D Obviously a mission that didn't involve any stairs, and nothing above 6 miles an hour (top speed of my chair!) With lots of ramps and extrawide doors :-) Seriously though, I'm connected to this computer with a ton of cables and if that could be made to play nice with Dragon, and it wasn't too tight across where the break…

If you're in the UK they can be picked up pretty cheaply from surplus stores, and no doubt online too. There must be some consumer-grade ones knocking about too which might be worth a shot if you're not sure if it'll work or not :)

I've just ordered a USB version because Dragon requires really clear quality sound, and just plugging a 3.5 mm jack into the Line In port is and going to work because Dragon will only recognise USB devices.

But fingers crossed this one will work!

Re: Ask HN: I'm quadriplegic – can you help me with my security?

#156

Post by escapologybb »

fsck0ff wrote: post #89

Well I guess you could use something like that: http://notimpossiblelabs.com/eyewriter with some software modification (pure speculation as I haven't even checked the code) you could use eye movement and blinking to simulate mouse input and with on screen keyboard you should be able to write your password somewhat securely http://www.ted.com/talks/mick_ebeling_the_invention_that_unl... also shouldn't be expensive to…

I will definitely look into that, I remember seeing the TED talk when it first came out and thought it was cool; thanks for the links :-)

Re: Ask HN: I'm quadriplegic – can you help me with my security?

#157

Post by escapologybb »

im3w1l wrote: post #91

Questions on the threat model: -Is the computer turned off or on? -Do you want to a) protect your computer from being stolen? b) protect your weird fetish from being discovered? c) protect your online banking credentials?

Answers on the threat model:

- Yes the computer is turned on - C is the main worry, with regards to A, if somebody has managed to get into the house and is about to take the laptop, there is absolutely nothing I can do about it so I don't really worry about it.

And as for B, I have absolutely no weird fetishes at all and have done absolutely nothing wrong EVER :-)

Re: Ask HN: I'm quadriplegic – can you help me with my security?

#158

Post by escapologybb »

camus wrote: post #55

Since you are here , a few questions (not related to the current subject): you might be surfing on the web , given your condition , what are the annoying stuff you encounter that makes your surfing harder and that could be ,easily fixed if web developpers actually cared about accessibilty. Do you have exemples of websites that use technology to facilitate surfing for disabled people , that could be shown as an exempl…

Hi, hit me up on Twitter and I'd be happy to help. @escapologybb

Re: Ask HN: I'm quadriplegic – can you help me with my security?

#160

Post by X4 »

@OP

a) How about buying an external Fingerprint reader that's close to your thumb or wearable? There are tools that automatically find windows with input fields.

b) OR, instead of dictating a password, you could hire someone to write software that extracts a fingerprint from your VOICE's characteristics. You would have to train it to diferent types of voices you have (morning voice/tired voice/hoarse voice etc.)

Every person's voice has characteristics that make it unique and cannot be reproduced by another human. Only a computer could do that and that would require a lot of effort to break the unknown algorithm used in your computer first

c) use existing software like this: http://demo.authentify.com/biometric/ or similar. I just googled for voice authentication/fingerprint.

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