The fingerprint sensors on the screen have become one of the most prominent components of today. The most important companies in the sector have decided to bet on a completely new technology that has not been fully developed. However, we have already been able to test mobiles such as the OnePlus 7, the P30 Pro or the Mi 9T in which the optical sensor is shown as one of the most outstanding novelties. However, thanks to the research of XDA Developers, the safety of these components could be at stake.
Next, we are going to tell you how easy it is to deceive this type of sensors. All that is needed is a transparent film and some ink. The arrival of these security and identification elements has become a trend that has not only been established in the premium sector, but the mid-range is also already preparing the landing of a technology that can have security failures as serious as the ones we are going to show next.
On-screen fingerprint sensors are easy to fool
Many are the users who support the arrival of the fingerprint sensors on the screen to the current terminals, but there are also many other people who have decided not to bet on these components. Similarly, the current trend will eventually impose these readers on all market terminals. It seems to us personally that it is a good technology that is in the process of development and is still missing a few years to reach the usual sensors. Well, it seems that not only is it about speed, but they can also be much lower in security.
A report published by XDA Developers has confirmed how easy it is to deceive these types of sensors. For this, only a transparent film of those that are usually used to wrap food and a little ink is necessary. In the video, you can see how the terminal is unlocked with the mere impression of the print on the transparent film. Then, all you have to do is press a little and you can now access the device with total freedom. In this process, the most complicated thing would be to obtain the footprint in question, from there everything becomes the simplest task in the world.
It should be noted that this method has also been used with conventional sensors located on the back and side of the terminals and the results have been completely different. It is also important to note that this procedure does not have to work on all devices. Everything seems to indicate that the safety of the new sensors is not at the level that tradition readers can have, so the question we must ask ourselves is: are fingerprint sensors safe on the screen? It seems not.