Can unregistered fingerprints unlock affected Samsung phones?

Question

Accepted Answer

Unregistered Fingerprints Could Unlock Affected Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10 Devices

Reports indicated that in-display fingerprint scanners on the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10 models were vulnerable when specific third-party screen protectors were applied. This vulnerability allowed any unregistered fingerprint to unlock the device after a legitimate fingerprint had been registered with the screen protector in place. Samsung acknowledged the issue, attributing it to the ultrasonic sensors mistakenly recognizing three-dimensional patterns on certain silicone screen protectors.
Vulnerability with Third-Party Screen Protectors

The security flaw emerged when users registered their fingerprints with certain third-party screen protectors attached to their Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10 devices. Once registered under these conditions, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensors could be tricked by any fingerprint, effectively bypassing the intended security measure. This meant that individuals without registered fingerprints could gain access to the device.
Samsung's Acknowledgment and Fix

Samsung confirmed the issue, explaining that the ultrasonic sensors were misinterpreting the 3D patterns found on specific silicone screen protectors. The company has since worked to address this vulnerability. A software update was reportedly released to rectify the problem, though initial deployment was limited to South Korea, with plans to expand it globally.
Impact on Banking and Payment Systems

The discovery of this fingerprint scanner vulnerability led to significant repercussions for affected users and financial institutions. Several banks in the United Kingdom reportedly began blacklisting Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10 smartphones from accessing their mobile banking applications. Additionally, Alipay temporarily suspended its fingerprint-based payment verification for these devices, and the Bank of China removed the option for fingerprint payments on affected Galaxy phones.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Can unregistered fingerprints unlock affected Samsung phones?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends