Thieves can easily steal your fingerprints with photos

You may think that demonstrating the so-called "peace sign" on Selfie is an innocuous habit that does not entail any serious consequences. In addition, there are millions more of these photos.

What problems can selfie cause?

Nevertheless, a researcher from Japan discovered that fingerprints can be easily copied and recreated using photographs if they were taken from a distance of up to three meters, and the "peace sign" is an amazingly convenient way of displaying your prints.

Given the appearance of biometric fingerprints-locks - the technology of unlocking your phone or laptop - it can make people unarmed in front of hackers.

A "peace sign" accidentally made in front of a camera can cause fingerprints to be widely available, "said Professor Isao Echizen, a security researcher and digital media at the National Institute of Informatics of Japan.

He noted that the quality of smartphone cameras is so good these days, and people are so ready to share self through social media that thieves can get your fingerprint in minute detail by simply logging on to the Internet without even needing advanced technology. With the same success, you can carry your bank details on your sleeve.

Passing biometric technology

The growth of biometric technologies continues, and scans of prints are today the most popular of them, accounting for half of the biometric security system. Although earlier this scan was used by banks and underground secret storages, today it is used to unlock phones, laptops, banking applications, doors and cars. In the near future, we will probably be able to see that fingerprint scanning is used to unlock and identify even more different systems, for example, ATMs, security scanners at airports, and electronic voting systems.

However, one should keep in mind: in order for this theft to work, the attacker must find a clear image of the fingers, create their actual pattern, and then get physical access to your smartphone.

Methods for protecting fingerprints

The team of Echizen based on the Institute has created a way to protect your prints. It includes a translucent titanium oxide film that can be placed on the fingertips to confuse thieves. Nevertheless, it will become available in two years or so. The Chinese security company Goodix is also working to protect you from potential hackers. She develops a biometric system that uses an infrared sensor and a fingerprint sensor to scan and analyze the underlying tissue, as well as your heart rate.

How to protect yourself

Nevertheless, the best advice is to stop posting photos on which you can recreate fingerprints on the network. Unlike passwords, fingerprint technology is much more difficult to change if it has been hacked. If someone breaks a password, you can change it, but it's impossible to do with the fingerprints with which you were born.