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When Apple (AAPL) introduced the iPhone 5s earlier this month, one of the features it touted was Touch ID, a fingerprint-scanner built into the home button at the bottom of the device. Users may simply touch the home button to unlock their phone and even authenticate iTunes purchases, instead of inputting a custom 4-digit passcode used by previous iPhones.
蘋果（Apple）本月初發布了新款iPhone 5s，Touch ID技術是其中備受矚目的新特性之一。這項技術可利用內置于Home鍵中的指紋掃描設備加密手機。用戶只需輕觸Home鍵就能解鎖手機，甚至還能在iTunes上消費，而在此之前，用戶必須先在手機上輸入四位數的解鎖碼。
But just how secure is Touch ID, really? Is it a nifty gimmick, or truly better security for user data?
不過，Touch ID功能真的安全可靠嗎？它究竟是可有可無的新奇玩意，還是用戶能真正可以信賴的安全管家？
Likely the latter. According to Marc Rogers, a security researcher for the mobile security startup Lookout, Apple's implementation of fingerprint scanning trumps the old method for myriad reasons. Across both Android (GOOG) and iOS devices, just over 50% of users use the four-digit passcode feature. Having it boosts security, but it also seems many just can't be bothered with wasting a few seconds each time to log in. "People see them as barriers, and they try to avoid having too many barriers, " explains Rogers.
我看是后者居多。移動安全新創企業Lookout公司的安全研究員馬克•羅杰斯表示，蘋果的指紋掃描技術在方方面面完勝傳統加密方法。據統計，僅有一半多的Android和iOS用戶在使用四位數字解鎖碼。雖然解鎖碼能提高安全系數，但許多用戶都不愿意在登陸前花幾秒鐘的時間來輸入密碼。羅杰斯解釋說：“解碼鎖被人們看成是一種障礙，而人們會有意識地避免過多的障礙?！?/div>
Touch ID should make the process easier, at least in theory. Initially, users have to to set up the feature by having their fingerprint scanned and stored on the device -- a process that takes several moments. From every instance on, unlocking the phone means simply pressing the home button as one normally would. If that's the case, more iOS users are likely to turn the feature on. It doesn't add a pesky extra step in everyday user experience: just touch and go.
Touch ID能讓這個過程更加簡單，至少從理論上是這樣。用戶只需在使用前花費少許時間，掃描和存儲指紋即可。以后，用戶只需要像日常使用一樣，輕輕觸碰一下Home鍵就能解鎖手機。如果Touch ID真的能達到如此效果，我想絕大部分iOS用戶都會樂于使用這項新功能。用戶幾乎沒有增加任何使用成本：只要輕輕點擊即可。
As for the tech itself, Rogers explains fingerprint scanning as a whole is more secure than the four-digit passcode. Copying someone's fingerprints remains a cumbersome process, not to mention pricey -- as much as $200, 000, by some estimates. And at the risk of sounding morbid, using severed fingers apparently isn't an option either. (However, cat paws work.) Which is to say, that barring a targeted hack, iPhone 5s owners should rest assured their data is just as secure as it ever was.
羅杰斯表示，就整體而言，指紋掃描技術的安全系數要高于傳統的四位解鎖碼。即使在今天，復制指紋依然是一項異常復雜的工作，更不要說它高昂的成本——有人估算每次成本高達20萬美元。雖然聽起來有些變態，但截斷的手指也無法解鎖iPhone。（不過，它還能識別貓爪。）這就是說，除非遭遇有針對性的攻擊，不然Touch ID絕不比之前的安全技術差，iPhone 5S用戶完全可以放心。
"It's your phone -- we're not launching missiles here, " jokes Bruce Schneier, a security technologist. "We're looking for a little bit of security, and I think Touch ID is a really great idea for that."
安全專家布魯斯•施耐爾調侃說：“大家的手機里又不會有什么國家機密，對普通人而言，Touch ID的安全性足夠了?！?/p>
