[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ background_image=”https:\/\/shop.thekernel.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/\u0415\u043c\u043a\u043e\u0441\u043d\u0456-\u0441\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0438.jpg” background_size=”contain” min_height=”712px” custom_margin=”-50px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” filter_brightness=”130%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”7%||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”DM Sans|500|||||||” header_font=”|300|||||||” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”5em” header_letter_spacing=”3px” header_line_height=”1.1em” header_2_font=”|300|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font_size=”3em” header_2_letter_spacing=”10px” header_2_line_height=”2.7em” header_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”92%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”|5.1%||3%|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ text_text_color=”#333″ text_font_size=”16px” header_text_color=”#111″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Even 20 years ago, few people wondered why a fingerprint scanner was needed, and today it is present on many smartphones released after 2014. Agree, it is convenient to unlock the device, confirm purchases in online stores or open accounts in online services with one touch.<\/span><\/p>\n But are fingerprint scanners on smartphones reliable from the point of view of information security? Let’s figure it out.<\/span><\/p>\n On September 20, 2013, sales of the iPhone 5S \u2014 the seventh-generation iPhone device with a Touch ID biometric scanner, which became a real breakthrough in biometric authentication \u2014 began. <\/span>It is noteworthy that a year earlier, Apple Corporation purchased Authentec, a company specializing in computer security, identity management and the production of biometric scanners, for $356 million.<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n At the time, it was the first smartphone to have a biometric scanner. It was assumed that its presence would reliably protect the information on the device from hacking.<\/span><\/p>\n However, within a few days, a group of German hackers published step-by-step instructions for breaking Touch ID. The essence of their method was to attach to the scanner a facsimile taken from a photograph of the owner’s fingerprint. <\/span>The print itself can technically be removed from a window or glass and slightly corrected in Photoshop<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n First, the print was photographed in high resolution (2400 dpi) and printed on thick paper, cardboard (1200 dpi), then filled with latex (or ordinary carpenter’s glue) and waited for drying. The separated form, put on the finger of the attacker, was perceived by the sensor as the finger of the real owner. It turned out that the scanner can be fooled using a dummy.<\/span><\/p>\n This did not prevent the company from continuing to release models with a biometric scanner and had little effect on further sales of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and other company devices. At most, the trend has been picked up further by all smartphone manufacturers, continuing to discover and improve new technologies to overcome the shortcomings of previous versions.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/shop.thekernel.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/\u0425\u0430\u043a\u0435\u0440\u0438-\u0437\u043b\u0430\u043c\u0430\u043b\u0438-iPhone-5S.png” alt=”Hackers hacked iphone 5s” title_text=”Hackers hacked iphone 5s” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Almost immediately after the sale of the first devices and the scandalous story with the Touch ID hack, Apple was accused of sending fingerprint scans to servers where they could be stolen by fraudsters. However, the company was able to refute this accusation, since a pair of keys is created with cryptographic encryption in mind when the fingerprint is saved. Next, a special chip inside the device is used to store and match the print. And only the corresponding encrypted cryptographic key is transmitted to the server, which cannot be used to reproduce the image itself.<\/span><\/p>\n Note.<\/i><\/b> Digital forensics experts can still either get a fingerprint from the smartphone’s memory using specialized software, or bypass the phone’s protection despite the user’s fingerprint lock<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Almost immediately after the presentation of the iPhone 5S, many potential buyers began to express fears that thieves will begin to cut off the owners’ fingers in order to unlock their devices. However, Sebastian Tavo, director of technology at Validity Sensors, assured that the RF capacitive sensor technology takes into account a number of indicators (humidity, temperature, etc.). Therefore, a severed finger will not work as a key. <\/span><\/p>\n The surface of the finger pad not only has a unique papillary pattern woven from the configuration of ridges, depressions, pores on the surface of the skin, but also has thermal and electrical characteristics. This means that light, heat, electricity, and ultrasound can be used to obtain a fingerprint. Today, fingerprint scanners used on personal devices can be divided into three main groups:<\/span><\/p>\n Let’s consider their advantages and disadvantages.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/shop.thekernel.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/\u041e\u043f\u0442\u0438\u0447\u043d\u0456-\u0441\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0438-\u0432\u0456\u0434\u0431\u0438\u0442\u043a\u0456\u0432.jpeg” alt=”Optical fingerprint scanners” title_text=”Optical fingerprint scanners” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Optical scanners<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n An optical scanner is usually installed on OLED displays. It works like a camera: when applying a finger, the area of the scanner is illuminated and the reflection of light from the finger falls on the photosensitive matrix, where it is further transformed into a digital image.<\/span><\/p>\n Advantages of optical scanners:<\/strong><\/p>\n Disadvantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/shop.thekernel.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/\u0415\u043c\u043a\u043e\u0441\u043d\u0456-\u0441\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0438.jpg” alt=”olympus digital camera” title_text=”olympus digital camera” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Capacitive scanners<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n There are several types of semiconductor scanners (thermal, radio frequency, capacitive, pressure sensors). But most of them (except capacitive) are usually not used in smartphones due to serious disadvantages \u2013 high price, bulkiness, unstable work with the image, tendency to wear out quickly (in particular, sensors pressure). Therefore, we will consider the most common of them \u2013 capacitive scanners.<\/span><\/p>\n Capacitive scanners<\/b> made on the basis of a silicon plate containing microcapacitors located in a matrix. The scanning itself is based on changing the charge of the capacitors when touching the surface of the finger. And since the width of the papillary ridge is about 450 \u03bcm, and the capacitor modules have a size of 50 \u00d7 50 \u03bcm, such scanners read the print quite accurately, capturing minimal differences in the papillary pattern.<\/span><\/p>\n Advantages of capacitive scanners:<\/strong><\/p>\n Disadvantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/shop.thekernel.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/\u0423\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0437\u0432\u0443\u043a\u043e\u0432\u0456-\u0441\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0438.jpg” alt=”Ultrasonic scanners” title_text=”Ultrasonic scanners” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Ultrasonic scanners<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Such devices work according to the principle of an ultrasound scanner. The device sends imperceptible ultrasonic signals to the surface of the finger. They push away from him and return to the scanner, which recognizes the image in a three-dimensional projection.<\/span><\/p>\n Advantages of such a device:<\/strong><\/p>\n Disadvantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite the shortcomings of the devices, they can be called reliable due to the impossibility of forging a fingerprint.<\/span><\/p>\n We have listed in our article the most popular fingerprint scanners today, all of them have advantages and disadvantages. But in order not to choose between high price and quality, we offer an alternative option \u2013 YubiKey capacitive security keys of the Bio series with a fingerprint sensor.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/shop.thekernel.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/\u0415\u043c\u043a\u043e\u0441\u043d\u0456-\u0441\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0438-YubiKey.jpg” alt=”Capacitive scanners yubikey” title_text=”Capacitive scanners yubikey” url=”https:\/\/shop.thekernel.ua\/en\/shop\/yubikey-bio-fido-edition” url_new_window=”on” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nHow hackers hacked the iPhone 5S \u2014 a breakthrough in the field of biometrics<\/b><\/h2>\n
User concerns about biometric security<\/b><\/h3>\n
Sending a printout to the server<\/b><\/h4>\n
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Severed finger to break<\/b><\/h4>\n
Types of biometric scanners and their reliability<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Optical scanners<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Semiconductor scanners<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Ultrasonic scanners<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Which scanners are the most reliable?<\/b><\/h2>\n