Galaxy S10: face recognition trapped

The Galaxy S10 is almost perfect! Almost because its system of unlocking by facial recognition can be deceived by a simple photo of the owner of the mobile. Damage to a smartphone to nearly 1,000 euros …

A powerhouse monster, the best of the best … Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S10, is unanimous in its qualities since its presentation. If the various tests validate most of its promises, there is a problem with security. The facial recognition system could be fooled by a simple photo of the owner of the mobile. Too bad for phone very upscale.

The video evidence on YouTube, by Lewis Hilsenteger, a columnist specializing in smartphone reviews. It was enough that it is filmed with mobile and broadcast with it the video in front of the Galaxy S10 for the flagship of Samsung is unlocked. At each attempt, the trick worked.

Another Italian journalist tried the experiment with a simple photo. The mobile has also unlocked, but in a less systematic way than with video. Whether it is one or the other subterfuge (video or photo), they both have one thing in common, they are 2D images. It happens that the selfies module of the S10 does not have a depth sensor, which explains the ease with which it is possible to lure the face recognition system.

Facial recognition: the weakest link

The Galaxy S10 is not the only one to suffer from a faulty facial recognition system, and far from it! It even seems that this method is the least relevant in terms of security with respect to a fingerprint sensor, an encrypted code or a diagram. So, a Forbes reporter had put many mobile phones to the test with 3D printing of his face. He had already fooled the 3D recognition system of Android on a Samsung S9, a Note 8, an LG G7 and a OnePlus 6. It was also the latter that was the easiest to fool.

Only the face ID system of the iPhone X did not fail because of a security reinforcement. And for good reason, it is necessary to fix with the eyes a precise place of the smartphone to unlock it. For the moment and apart from the addition of a second front sensor to determine the depth, the only parade for manufacturers remains to inform their customers that the locking of their mobile by facial recognition is not the process the safer.