Blog

Screen Protectors Circumvent Fingerprint Security On Samsung Devices

Oct 28, 2019 | Blog

Do you own a Samsung Galaxy S10?  If so, one of the reasons you bought it may be because of its cutting-edge biometric technology. It utilizes ultrasounds to create a detailed 3D map of your fingerprint and thus, provides a greater level of security.

Earlier in the year, the company warned its customers against using tempered glass screen protectors with their phones.

This was due to the fact that those products tended to create a small gap of air when used on the phone that interfered with the creation of a good fingerprint map.

Now, it seems, a new problem has emerged.  A couple in the UK accidentally discovered that if an inexpensive silicone case was put on the phone, it interfered with the operation of the fingerprint scanner and allowed literally any fingerprint to unlock the phone. The couple did some experimentation on this front and worked with Samsung customer support to reach their conclusion.  Sure enough, when the silicone case was on the phone, the owner’s husband and sister could unlock it with their fingerprints, even though neither of their fingerprints had been registered on the phone.

For their part, Samsung has reported that they are opening an investigation into the matter. For now, they warn consumers to only use Samsung approved accessories with their Galaxy S10 and S10+ phones. That’s good advice, but here’s the danger:  If a hacker physically steals your phone, they may be able to unlock it and conduct financial transactions from it by doing nothing more than buying a cheap silicone case and slipping it on.

Needless to say, this is a potentially serious issue.  If you own a Samsung Galaxy S10 or S10+ you can experiment with it for yourself, but be prepared to be dismayed by the results and take care not to let your phone out of your sight until the company can find a way to resolve the issue.

FBI Program Tasked with Infrastructure Security Compromised

FBI Program Tasked with Infrastructure Security Compromised

The FBI program tasked with ensuring critical infrastructure security has been compromised by hackers, who now offer access to the program's data on the dark web. The breach was initially disclosed by Brian Krebs of Krebs on Security, who claims that the data was for...

Streamline Your Business with the Latest Smart Home Technology

Streamline Your Business with the Latest Smart Home Technology

Are you a business owner looking to get the most out of your Google smart home devices? If so, you're in luck! Google has enabled its Nest products and Android OS with the initial rollout of the Matter smart home standard. This means that businesses now have the...

Data Breach at Sequoia One Exposes Sensitive Customer Information

Data Breach at Sequoia One Exposes Sensitive Customer Information

What do you do when your most personal information has been compromised? This is likely the question that customers of Sequoia One asked themselves earlier this month as they were informed that the company had been hacked. Sequoia One specializes in the management of...

Cisco Reports Critical IP Phone Vulnerability

Cisco Reports Critical IP Phone Vulnerability

As a business owner, it's important to stay informed about potential vulnerabilities that could impact your organization. Recently, Cisco reported a critical vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2022-20968, affecting its IP Phone 7800 and 8800 Series. This new vulnerability...

Google Chrome Releases Two New Features

Google Chrome Releases Two New Features

Google Chrome is one of the more commonly used web browsers. Over the years, though, Chrome has gained a reputation for utilizing a large portion of a computer's memory. This can be a problem if you're running other resource-intensive tasks and don't want to slow...

Get a Free Consultation

 

Fill out the form below to receive a free consultation and learn how we can make your technology worry-free!

 

Contact Information

  • 39301 Badger Street, Suite 500
    Palm Desert, CA 9221
  • (760) 333-8523
  • info@icn.tech