Android 4.0 Face Recognition System Can Be Fooled With A Photo…. #FAIL

Let’s say you’ve got a phone with Android 4.0 which has that face recognition software that uses your face to unlock your phone. Sweet isn’t it. Actually it’s not. Here’s why. Apparently it can be fooled rather easily using a photo:

In a test carried out by IBTimes UK, we found that the Galaxy S3 cannot distinguish between a photograph and a real person, leading us to suggest users should select a more secure way of locking the phone, such as with a PIN or password.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was released late last year, and it was soon discovered that its face unlock feature could be defeated with a photograph, despite Google’s Tim Bray stating on Twitter that it was not possible.

Well, that’s just a bit problematic. Here’s what’s even more problematic:

“In response to security issues raised regarding Face Unlock, Samsung incorporated blinking for added security,” the company said on its official blog in March.

That’s clearly not working as it is June and we’re talking about this. My advice? Skip the photo. Use a password or a PIN just like the article suggests. As for face recognition, let me know when it’s proven to be secure as opposed to assuming that it is secure.

One Response to “Android 4.0 Face Recognition System Can Be Fooled With A Photo…. #FAIL”

  1. “That’s clearly not working as it is June and we’re talking about this. My advice? …”

    No, YOU are talking about it. It was solved months ago. Get with it bub.

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