Legal Technology

Fingerprint-ID system for new Apple smartphone has been hacked

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Less than 48 hours after Apple introduced its new smartphone, one security feature had already been hacked.

A member of a Germany-based hacker organization, the Chaos Computer Club put a video on YouTube on Sunday that shows the fingerprint-identification security system for the iPhone 5s can be circumvented with a sharp photo of the user’s print and a laser printer, reports Newsy.

However, as a TechCrunch article points out, common thieves may find the process of dusting a stolen device for prints a bit difficult:

“First you need some kind of colored powder or superglue to lift the fingerprint. Then you have to scan the fingerprint, invert it and print it with a resolution of 1200dpi or more onto a transparent sheet. … If somebody is willing to go through all of this to break into your phone, chances are you have bigger issues than fingerprint security.”

See also:

USA Today: “Review: iPhone 5s camera steps up with sharper images, new features”

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