lie-phone
Hackers fool Apple’s super secure Face ID and unlock iPhone X with a simple mask
Security researchers are pushing the new iPhone to its limits but managed to crack its Face ID... with a very elaborate hack
IT'S barely been available for ten days, but conniving hackers have already cracked the iPhone X's facial recognition security system.
Security experts based in Singapore used a 3D scanner to re-create the owners face at a cost of £115.
4
They used 3D printing, makeup and 2D images plus some "special processing on the cheeks and around the face" to fool the iPhone X.
In a clip posted to YouTube, a researcher at Bkav can be seen holding his iPhone X in front of the model of his face and successfully unlocking it.
Apple has claimed that its Face ID - which replaces fingerprint scanner Touch ID from its earlier models - is super secure.
Samsung was left red-faced when hackers proved it was easy to fool its own version using a photo of its owner.
4
The smartphone rival admitted the flaw but said that it never claimed facial recognition was uncrackable.
Bkav has gone to extreme lengths to unlock the iPhone X and while £115 is just a fraction of the £1,000 price tag, it seems unlikely that criminals are going to recreate each owners' faces before nicking their gadgets.
4
But it could prove problematic for high profile names, a spokesperson said.
They said: " Potential targets shall not be regular users, but billionaires, leaders of major corporations, nation leaders and agents like FBI need to understand the Face ID's issue [sic].
Simple trick shows how you can get rid of stock iPhone apps
"Security units' competitors, commercial rivals of corporations, and even nations might benefit from our proof of concept."
Hackers or spies could use this method to try and learn all the top-secret details after nicking a politician or journalist's phone, for example.
4
Apple said that its Face ID will continually learn by constantly taking selfies of its owner to create a very detailed profile.
That might be why it was easily tricked just a week after purchase.
STOLEN PHONE? What to do if your phone is lost or stolen, how do you find your IMEI number and can thieves unlock your iPhone?
Apple has worked with mask makers to make sure scenarios like these can't happen.
Speaking at the iPhone X launch event in September, Apple's Senior Vice President Phil Schiller said: "They [Apple workers] have even gone and worked with professional mask makers and makeup artists in Hollywood to protect against these attempts to beat Face ID".
Here are the Apple iPhone X's coolest features - including animojis
more iphone x stories
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.