Is it truly safe to unlock mobile phones using your fingerprint?

The rapid advancement of smartphone technology has made fingerprint authentication a widely used technique. Fingerprint unlocking is frequently utilized to unlock mobile phones, as well as for application login and payment verification. Most users choose it because of its ease of use and some level of security.

Fingerprints are distinct and cannot be duplicated. Even identical twins do not have the same fingerprint since each person's fingerprint is distinct. Because fingerprints are unique among biometric features, they are a dependable authentication method. The fact that fingerprints are harder for hackers to copy or decode than regular passwords or pattern unlocking strengthens a device's security.

As biometric identification technology develops, fingerprint recognition's precision and dependability have also enhanced. Modern fingerprint sensors ensure that only authorized users may access the device, as they can identify even the smallest minutiae in fingerprints and apply advanced algorithms to compare them. This cutting-edge security system successfully stops unauthorized access and data leaks.

Touching the sensor is all needed to finish the quick fingerprint-unlocking process. Fingerprint unlocking is more effective than typing a password or creating a pattern. The gadget is instantly unlockable, increasing user efficiency.

Even though every person's fingerprint is different, researchers from Michigan State University and New York University discovered that the local characteristics of two fingerprints are typically identical. Put differently, mobile phones and other devices with fingerprint-based security mechanisms are susceptible to vulnerabilities. The weakness is caused by the fact that the user's fingerprint is not fully captured by the fingerprint sensor used for authentication.

Rather, it captures and retains merely a portion of the fingerprint region, and numerous smartphones enable users to input the fingerprints of several fingers into the system. The phone will unlock if the user's fingerprint matches the regional fingerprint logged in the system.

Research shows that a person's fingerprints might be sufficiently similar to one another to create a "superfine" able to fool a smartphone's fingerprint sensor.

Potential risks of fingerprint unlocking

• Fingerprint-copying technology

Fingerprint replication is challenging, yet it is not unachievable. Under some circumstances, high-resolution images and 3D printing technologies, among others, can replicate an individual's fingerprint. For instance, some researchers have shown instances of successfully unlocking mobile phones by replicating fingerprints using 3D printing technology and high-resolution pictures. This indicates that fingerprints are not impervious to forgery.

• Biometrics cannot be changed.

Unlike passwords, users are unable to alter their fingerprints once fingerprint data has been stolen or disclosed. This implies that users' biometrics will be vulnerable to long-term security issues as soon as attackers have fingerprint information. Fingerprints cannot be reset after they are compromised.

• Software security issues

Fingerprint unlocking is dependent on the device's firmware. Fingerprint data can be altered or stolen if malware infiltrates the system or if it has security holes. In particular, some unreviewed applications could pose a risk to fingerprint data because of the open nature of the Android system. Thus, one of the major difficulties that fingerprint unlocking must overcome is software security concerns.

How can we improve the security of fingerprint unlocking？

• Multiple authentication

Users can enhance security by combining several authentication techniques (passwords, facial recognition) to compensate for the drawbacks of fingerprint unlocking. Customers can opt for dual authentication using their fingerprint and password to mitigate security risks from a single authentication method being cracked.

• High-quality sensors and regularly updated systems

Select devices equipped with high-security fingerprint sensors and encryption technology to guarantee complete protection of fingerprint data during storage and transmission. Keep the device's operating system and fingerprint recognition software up-to-date to prevent hostile attacks from taking advantage of known vulnerabilities.

• Protect fingerprint data

Users should be mindful of safeguarding their fingerprint data, refrain from indiscriminately leaving their fingerprints in public areas, and prevent anyone with malicious intent from gathering and duplicating their prints. Fingerprints should also be avoided on untrusted devices as much as feasible to lessen the chance of fingerprint data leaking.

The technology for unlocking fingerprints is not perfect. Even though fingerprints are distinct and hard to replicate, they pose security problems. Users can further increase the security of fingerprint unlocking through a number of steps. While fingerprint unlocking is generally a convenient and safe identification technique, it should be used with additional security measures to provide complete data and privacy protection.