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  "path": "/t/its-foss-how-to-set-up-face-unlock-on-ubuntu-and-other-linux-distros/37895#post_1",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-14T15:06:55.000Z",
  "site": "https://discuss.privacyguides.net",
  "tags": [
    "It's FOSS – 31 Aug 20",
    "How to Set Up Face Unlock on Ubuntu and Other Linux Distros",
    "Howdy",
    "Facial recognition is not very secure"
  ],
  "textContent": "It's FOSS – 31 Aug 20\n\n### How to Set Up Face Unlock on Ubuntu and Other Linux Distros\n\nMissing the Windows Hello kind of unlocking of your system on Linux? Learn how to set up face unlock on Ubuntu and other Linux distributions.\n\n> Howdy is an open source software that gives you the ability to login to your Linux system with face recognition. Consider it an open source Windows Hello alternative for Linux. Here, your data is stored locally on your computer.\n\n> Howdy uses the PAM authentication system, which means not only you can log in to your system with your face, but you can also use it for sudo, su and in most other situations where you need to use your account password.\n\nThe Linked article is more of a tutorial on how to set up _Howdy_ - A tool that provides “Windows Hello™ style authentication for Linux”. However I am more so curious a to the thoughts of the Privacy Guides community as to what place biometric authentication (either facial recognition or fingerprint) has on the Linux desktop.\n\nThis article also notes:\n\n> I won’t recommend setting it up on critical infrastructure or servers. Facial recognition is not very secure.\n>\n> Using face unlock on your personal Linux system is one thing, but please don’t use it on servers or work machines.\n\nThought the article they link to here is from 2019, I do think it raises at least one valid point\n\n> According to the study, by adjusting only a few pixels at the corner of a person’s eye or mouth would be unrecognizable to the facial recognition technology. Apple has set the highest standard for facial recognition with Face ID, developing a second camera called the “True Depth Camera,” which maps your face and takes special 3D pictures that are used to authenticate you with an infrared camera, flood illuminator and dot projector. However, not every device can withstand extensive tests\n\nThis is one of my main concerns with facial recognition/Windows Hello style authentication on Desktop Linux. The specialized hardware required to make the process secure is not guaranteed to exist, and therefor the calculation must be done in a fundamentally less secure way.",
  "title": "It's FOSS: How to Set Up Face Unlock on Ubuntu and Other Linux Distros"
}