These days, security is one of the main concerns. When it comes to Android, it is known to be the most vulnerable to threats among all platforms. According to Google, they have addressed these concerns with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), which will be first featured on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. One of the features that offer more security is Face Unlock. The phone makes use of facial recognition software to recognize your face, which unlocks the phone.
Once Face Unlock is pre-programmed to recognize you facial features, all you have to do is flash your face on the phone’s front-facing camera to unlock the phone. However, news broke out that your photo could be used to unlock the phone, which would allow other people to access the phone if they get their hands on one of your picture. Android’s Tim Bray responded by saying, “Nope. Give us some credit”.
Despite the response, there is evidence showing Face Unlock getting duped on a video on YouTube. Although not by a photo, it was fooled using a Samsung Galaxy Note. First, the reporter took a picture of himself using the Note. With the picture, the reporter was able to unlock Galaxy Nexus supposedly secured by Face Unlock. The maneuver was done thrice on the video, proving that Face Unlock can be fooled.
On the YouTube video’s comment section, the reporter was accused of programming a 2D version of his face rather than a 3D version on the Galaxy Nexus. However, it does raise questions whether the security measure has some flaws or not. Anyway, we’ll get to see if there is a flaw or not with Face Unlock once the new Android flagship arrives next week.