A thorough side by side comparison of two technologies, Fingerprint and Face recognition, taking into consideration pros and cons relative to security, privacy, affordability, and more...
Due to Technological progress, smartphone security has come far beyond the PIN or password stage but has also made phones more vulnerable how? Well, Most people prefer having locks on their mobile phones for peace of mind if it's lost or stolen. So biometrics seems the latest option because it identifies a person's identity, which is extremely hard to replicate, but with them comes the fear of "data breach”.
According to a report, most consumers rely heavily on mobile devices to store and access sensitive digital data, so a secure and accurate method of unlocking remains a heated debate. Among the other bio-metric technology identification systems lie the famous and often compared Fingerprint and Facial recognition technology. So which of the two options is better? Fingerprint or facial recognition. You also seem confused about the choice, So don’t forget to read the answer.
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Before delving into biometric technology, we will consider the role of passwords, patterns, and PINs, which are somehow considered outdated methods of unlocking. On unpacking a phone, even today, you need to set a password, PIN code, or pattern as baseline protection. Afterwards, as the second line of defence, a biometric authentication option is set up, making it easier for you to access your mobile device, terminating the practice of manually enter the code every time. However, please note that anyone who can find your password, pattern, or PIN to use it to unlock your phone can delete your biometric ID and add their ID. Biometric technology is not meant to eliminate traditional authentication. It just saves you from having to enter a password, pattern, or PIN every time you log in. This allows you to set a particularly strong password because you don't have to enter it all the time.
Biometrics is the technology that is used to measure and analyze human characteristics, which include fingerprints, Irises, facial recognition, DNA. These Physiological modalities such as facial structure and Fingerprint are employed in smartphones to make them secure.
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Although face recognition is better than no protection at all, it’s not relatively more secure than Touch ID,
Hackers took less than 7 days to break through Face ID’s security. They used a 3D-printed copy of someone’s face, with stuck-on paper eyes, to do it. An average robber might not be interested in spending much time and energy, but it does show that — in theory. A determined person or an organization can hack your smartphone.
Touch ID may be a little inconvenient for some people but remember this formula.
“With ease may come breach
With inconvenience comes security”.
In the end, it’s just the age-old question
Security or Convenience?
Facial images are now easily accessible to anybody on social media, and other mediums mean fraudsters can more easily obtain images of potential fraud victims that can be used by fraudsters for spoofing.
They may try to bypass face bio-metrics used for authentication or access control by presenting a non-live image of an authorized user during the challenge. Face recognition algorithms must update themselves to be able to recognize a non-live digital image of a face.
Even if consequences are not that catastrophic and mostly accidental, unlockings occur, between family members, e.g. Twins can be recognized as one. Face ID still is less reliable than fingerprints for getting access to phones and devices.
Also, Google admits that its smartphone within built facial recognition capabilities, the new “Pixel 4” makes it possible for even a person with closed eyes to unlock their phone, which means it can work while they are asleep or even dead.
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No matter which one of the two technologies wins this battle. We must remember that its technology and, by its nature, it is vulnerable. Where there are professionals geared up for protecting devices, there are malicious actors too.
Phones these days come equipped with both sensors, and more options are getting ready to win the market like IRIS scanner and Palm/vein recognition.
Well, if you prefer to stay away from all this, don't keep sensitive information on your phone. If that seems tough, then what should you do. As for me as a professional, I have implied in this article too that Fingerprint sensors are a step ahead in secure unlocking.
Nevertheless, we have come far from the days of manually typing passwords all the time, and there is no going back. This is good news. Do you agree?
Tell me in the comments.
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