A few days ago, the news was announced that In the next version of Linux Mint 22.2 will bring A much-anticipated new feature, "native support for the fingerprint authentication«.
This functionality will be available through the new app called Fingwit, which will allow users to authenticate biometrically in various system scenarios, from logging in and unlocking the screen saver, to administrative operations such as using sudo.
Fingwit, the biometric solution for fingerprint authentication
Fingwit is based on the fprintd backend, a widely used service for fingerprint recognition on Linux, but adds a more sophisticated PAM module which allows dynamic switching between biometric and password authentication as needed.
The core of Fingwit is based on two PAM modules (Pluggable Authentication Modules):
- pam_fingwit.so: developed specifically for Fingwit
- pam_fprintd.so: the traditional fprintd-based fingerprint authentication module
Both modules work in a complementary way to ensure a smooth yet secure login experience. While pam_fprintd.so handles biometric authentication, pam_fingwit.so dynamically decides whether or not to use this method based on the user's context.
For example, if the user's home directory is encrypted, using only a fingerprint isn't sufficient, as the system requires the password to decrypt personal data. In these cases, pam_fingwit.so detects the problem and forces the bypassing of biometric authentication to prevent session crashes or errors.
This system not only makes fingerprint login easier, but also introduces intelligent logic that determines when this method is safe and when a traditional password is preferable.
Furthermore, Fingwit is designed as an XApp, which means it works perfectly on any Linux desktop environment and distribution, ensuring broad compatibility and ease of use for the entire community.
Along with Fingwit, Linux Mint 22.2 incorporates a new HWE kernel (Hardware Enablement) to improve compatibility with modern hardware, thus strengthening its adaptability to the latest devices.
As for the main applications, it is also mentioned that Linux Mint will update key tools such as GNOME Calendar, Simple Scan and Baobab Disk Usage Analyzer to versions based on libAdwaita, a modern framework for GTK applications.
To maintain compatibility with Mint's traditional visual themes, the developers have forked libAdwaita into a project called libAdapta, which adds support for themes and other extras without losing the original look and functionality.
Color correction in XViewer and improvements
During the development of the new version of «Linux Mint 22.2», the The Linux Mint team detected that the XViewer image viewer was applying EDID-based color correction. which could alter the actual representation of images. This led to inconsistencies, for example, when comparing the colors in a screenshot with those in the original application. Because color management is already adequately handled by hardware and desktop environments, This XViewer feature has been made optional and will be disabled by default.
End of cycle for Linux Mint 20.x
Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that the Linux Mint versions 20.x (20, 20.1, 20.2 and 20.3) have reached end of life and stopped receiving security updates starting in April 2024. Users are encouraged to migrate to Linux Mint 22.1 for official support until 2029.
Those who prefer to upgrade from 20.x versions have two options: perform a clean install of 22.1 or follow the upgrade path through Mint 21, which is supported until 2027. The minor upgrade to 20.3 is simple and quick, while the upgrade from 20.3 to 21 is a more involved process that requires time and caution.
Finally, it should be remembered that The Linux Mint community and forums are available to assist in these transitions, ensuring that users can enjoy the latest improvements without any problems.
Source: https://blog.linuxmint.com