Can Biometric Technology Fight Back From Hacks With Fingerprint Photos?
It turns out that hackers have figured out how to get past biometric fingerprint authentication by using photographs of a subject’s fingers and fingerprint identification software, according to Tech News World. But does this mean the idea of using the technology for secure authentication is over?
In September, hacker Jan Krissler, aka “Starbug,” announced that he and members of the Chaos Computer Club had successfully bypassed the biometric security found on Apple’s TouchID “using easy everyday means.” The blog post asserted that he used a photograph of the user’s fingerprint, found on a glass surface, to create a fake finger that was then able to unlock an iPhone 5S that used TouchID.
Frank Rieger, spokesperson of the CCC, said in the blog post. “The public should no longer be fooled by the biometrics industry with false security claims. Biometrics is fundamentally a technology designed for oppression and control, not for securing everyday device access.” Fingerprint biometrics in passports has been introduced in many countries despite the fact that by this global roll-out no security gain can be shown.
