“Experts” Warn Against iPhone 5S Fingerprint Sensor
In what is arguably the most ridiculous warning sign impaled in the coverage of Apple’s iPhone 5S announcement, so-called experts are now warning that future owners might be susceptible to having their fingers chopped off.As you might have already heard, the latest and greatest iPhone (which Apple starts selling next week), is equipped with this cool fingerprint sensor called “Touch ID” which reads your thumbprint for unlocking the device, or making App Store transactions.
The functionality is definitely bridging James Bond movies with reality, but nowadays fingerprint scanners are a commodity.
However, the chief researcher at mobile security firm Lookout, Marc Rogers is already imagining scenarios where criminals will go as far as to sever your finger to unlock your iPhone, once they steal it.
“Thieves in some regions have worked out that you can force a victim to unlock a secured device, and in some extreme cases have also mutilated victims in order to steal their fingerprint,” he said, according to The Independent.
“Fingerprints can be a useful addition to security but their value depends highly on the type of fingerprint reader and how it is being used - for example, the best use of a fingerprint is to provide a convenient way to unlock something in a medium to low security scenario,” Rogers said.
The “expert” also quipped, “Unlocking a device with a fingerprint, if done right, can be much more convenient than entering a pin code multiple times a day.”
You don’t say?
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