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    Don't trust the face ID too much: Your data can be hacked

    Synopsis

    With the face-unlock feature, the dangers of leaving one’s phone unattended are greater than ever before.

    smartphone-face-detection_GettyImagesGetty Images
    By Rohan Abraham

    With most smartphone manufacturers switching to notch-based designs to accommodate the face-unlock feature, the dangers of leaving one’s phone unattended are greater than ever before. Noushin Shabab, Senior Security Researcher, Kaspersky Lab, said that the onus of safeguarding the photos captured while authenticating an individual lies solely on the hardware manufacturer.

    “The main security risk of the face unlock feature is not bypassing the firewall, but the very fact is that an unauthorised person can unlock the device by holding a picture of the owner, or a 3D mask from the owner’s face in front of the mobile device. Third-parties can utilise such a photo repository for private gain, such as targeted advertising,” she added.

    The cases of facial recognition vary from the dystopian to bizarre. Lampposts in many Chinese cities are fitted with AI-powered CCTV cameras that map pedestrian faces with the government database, while some restrooms in Beijing use similar technology to deter the theft of toilet paper.


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