Hackable Biometrics

2017-05-24

I have never been a fan of biometrics. Utilizing body part patterns to identify users has always been something I viewed as less than adequate as well as being a database for intrusions — you know, facial recognition, big brother, and blah blah blah blah blah blah.

Well ... it figures. Biometrics, once touted as the totally unique primary identifier for user input in the universe are turning out to be just another hackable gateway to data systems.

A German hacking club called Chaos hacked the iris biometrics of a brand new Galaxy S8 using a photo of an eye with a contact lens placed upon it. Upon holding it up to the alleged "smart" phone it unlocked the S8 pretty as you please.

They say that iris security is riskier than fingerprint security but I fear that the technology is likely overused at this juncture given these circumstances and the propensity for hacking utilizing items commonly available. So much for face scanning, biometric passports, and other highly accurate yet spoof prone technologies.

Boo !