Fingerprint sensor iPhone 6 appears to be better protected against abuse

The fingerprint sensor of the iPhone 6 appears to be better protected against misuse than the sensor in the iPhone 5S. Research by security company Lookout has shown that. At the same time, it is still possible to unlock the phone with counterfeit fingerprints.

Bad copies of fingerprints cannot be used to trick the iPhone 6’s fingerprint sensor, writes Lookout security researcher Marc Rogers. That was still the case with the iPhone 5S.

The improvement in TouchID, as Apple calls the sensor, is likely due to the higher resolution of the sensor, which also means that legitimate fingerprints are less likely to be rejected. The surface of the fingerprint scan has also been enlarged.

At the same time, it is still possible to deceive the fingerprint sensor. This can be done, for example, with the help of a laser printer and glue, or with a pcb board, chemicals and glue. “But that requires technical skills, patience and a very good copy of someone’s fingerprint,” Rogers writes.

Rogers makes the comparison with locks: they are not perfect, but offer a good balance between effectiveness and ease of use. According to him, the same applies to the fingerprint sensor of the iPhone 6. At the same time, he is somewhat disappointed that the TouchID security has not been improved further, although it is unclear which improvements could be made.