How to See Fingerprints on a Keypad
It’s hard to believe, but there are actually ways that you can tell who used the keyboard before you. The keys on a computer or phone keyboard have tiny ridges and valleys, which pick up prints from fingers and keep them trapped in place. So the more someone touches a key, the darker their fingerprint will be.
And as they continue touching it over time, it becomes even easier for you to identify their fingerprints! This is called “latent” evidence because it shows up only after something has been left for some time – just like latent fingerprints at a crime scene take days or weeks to show up with chemicals! It’s almost like your own personal CSI kit right here on your laptop! In this article, I will discuss how to see fingerprints on a keypad. So let us get started.
How to See Fingerprints on a Keypad:
1. Do not touch a key on the keypad as you enter the passcode
2. Examine the numbers being pressed carefully
3. If possible, snap (or ask another person to snap) a photo of what is displayed on the screen while entering the passcode. The camera flash will help capture fingerprints and other details better, but it can also be distracting to some people
4. Note that if there are any fingerprints over LED light indicators (for example, Android) or caps lock/number lock lights, then this would allow for an easier conclusion about which keys were pressed and in which order since these are indicators for user actions performed by pressing those buttons
5. It might help to use magnification such as with a magnifying glass. Good lighting such as from a lamp can help to see fingerprints and marks easier
6. Look for smudged fingerprints, smeared whorls (or other patterns), duplicated prints, or smudged or distorted fingerprint details
7. If there are any similar numbers on the keypad, then this could be a hint that those numbers were pressed sequentially
8. There may be cases when you CANNOT figure out which number/s was used by looking at the keypad because either: A) They are already cleaned off B) There aren’t enough clues left C anymore) Everything is too blurry and unclear D) Nothing stands out E) You’re trying to take a photo of it, and things just aren’t working out.
9. In a situation where you CANNOT see fingerprints or any details on the keypad, then this might mean one of two things: A) The passcode was entered correctly, and no further analysis is possible B) The user used gloves
10. If you’re having trouble seeing anything clearly, then try using a magnifying glass or going closer to the screen so that your eyes are closer to it. This should help make things clearer, but this method may not always be possible since there are limits on how close you can get to capture fingerprints (or other information).
11. If your phone’s keypad has LED light indicators for number lock, caps lock, etc., these could also help make out any details. This is because LED lights will turn different colors when certain buttons are pressed, which would help indicate which keys were pressed (and, therefore, what passcode was entered).
For example, if the caps button is being pressed while entering a code, this might cause the number lock indicator to turn red or green since the number lock would be temporarily disabled.
Things to Consider While Buying a New Keyboard:
There are two ways to maintain your keyboard, by cleaning and polishing or by replacing it. Following rules should be kept in mind while buying a new keyboard:
1)The keys of the new keyboard should match the old ones.
2) If you buy a cheap one that may not last long, use a thick cloth between fingers and keys while typing. This will protect your fingertips from getting injured while hitting hard plastic keys on cheaper keyboards.
Always keep your fingers flat on the keypad when typing. Never put fingertips on the top row of letters (F, J, K, L). This is because these letters have deep switches inside, which require more force to push. So if you do this unknowingly, then you will feel a burning sensation on your fingertips. These keyboards are ubiquitous in India and China.
3)If you press the space key hard, the space bar may bend or break off easily. So it is better to use the space bar only when needed by gently touching it with a fingertip. Otherwise, keep your fingers at the sides of the keyboard while typing.
4)If you type very fast using a single finger or thumb, you will most likely feel pain in that particular finger because that one will get tired first from pushing too many keys. Therefore, it’s best to type with all five fingers for long periods while typing continuously (like in a chat room). This will avoid fatigue and soreness felt by digits and muscles relating to particular digit/fingers after continuous usage on the keyboard.
5)If you type hard and fast, use a keyboard with foam rubber coating on the bottom side of the keys for additional comfort. Doing so will slow the key presses to a more uniform rate, which reduces fatigue significantly. Foam rubber also acts as a shock absorber when pressed into it.
6)The space bar should not bend or break easily since this is used frequently during typing process. So check if the space bar is rigid enough, otherwise replace the keyboard with a new one.
Precautions While Cleaning Keyboard:
1. Before working on the laptop or keyboard, ensure that you have fully discharged the static electricity from your body and surrounding areas using a grounding wristband.
2. Remove any metallic items such as jewelry or a watch from your hands before cleaning the laptop. These items can cause short circuits while cleaning the electronic components of the laptop. If this precaution is not taken even once, it may damage several important parts inside your laptop, permanently affecting its performance.
3. Avoid applying pressure directly onto the keys while cleaning them, as they may fall off if proper care is not maintained. Similarly, avoid using any rough material such as paper, soft tissues, etc., since these things can permanently damage the keypad’s rubber coating through deep scratches.
4. Avoid using any alcohol-based cleaners since they tend to damage the rubber coating on mechanical keys and may lead to failure in key travel.