Qualcomm Sense ID Ultrasonic 3D Fingerprint Scanner Promises New Biometric Authentication Quality
Welcome to our readers on the iCover Blog Pages ! The biometric way to protect sensitive data with the Touch ID access control scanner, first implemented in the iPhone 5S, is a thing of the past, according to Qualcomm. A qualitatively new level of authentication and user data security will be provided by the Sense ID ultrasonic 3D fingerprint scanner, which, according to the developers, is deprived of the key shortcomings and vulnerabilities of Touch ID technology. The first device with Sense ID support, which is already expected to be on sale, will be the Chinese smartphone LeTV Le Max Pro with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset.
As you know, sensors that scan fingerprints and use the information received as a user identifier is one of the most popular trends actively introduced by many manufacturers of smartphones and mobile computers. This identification method is convenient and relatively simple, has a number of advantages, but it is not without drawbacks, which directly affect the level of security of confidential data.
Recall that a few days after the start of sales of the iPhone 5S, a team of German hackers Chaos Computer Club (CCC) posted step-by-step instructions on the site, demonstrating the ease of hacking the Touch ID fingerprint scanner installed in the then flagship smartphone Apple. Note that Touch ID is currently installed in other Apple products, including iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro, iPad mini 3 and iPad mini 4 tablets.
The essence of the method used by hackers came down to photographing the fingerprint of the phone’s owner in 2400 dpi (dots per inch) resolution, minimal editing of the image in Photoshop, its subsequent inversion and printing on a laser printer in resolution 1200 dpi on the surface of a standard transparent sheet, which can be purchased in the photo store. After the resulting papillary pattern was smeared with carpentry glue. The adhesive film obtained after drying can easily be separated and can be placed on the fingerprint reader by any person interested in obtaining confidential information of the smartphone owner.
As CCC spokeswoman Frank Rieger stated in his commentary on the material, “... False claims of the benefits that the biometric industry opens up leaves society in the cold.” Not addressing the security issues of access to confidential information, biometrics technology was created as a way of oppression and control. In this case, information that cannot be changed is used as a cryptographic key. Moreover, it is left in the form of fully working copies every hour and everywhere, ”he concluded.
September 2013 Demonstrating the ability to unlock TouchID in iPhone5S
The process does not seem too complicated, although the implementation of the hacking method in practice requires several conditions to be met: a clearly defined goal, the ability to get a fingerprint of the right finger of the owner in the right resolution, and a minimum set of appropriate equipment. Immediately after the release of the video, Apple was subjected to a flurry of criticism for developing a function that does not increase, but, on the contrary, reduces the level of protection of the smartphone. Having taken the path of increasing access comfort, the Cupertinians in this case significantly simplified the process of access to confidential information.
Of course, the information released by the CCC did not affect the choice of the majority of average users in favor of the convenience of the TouchID function, but in some cases it definitely made them think who are not too cautiously saving valuable information on their smartphones.
Qualcomm first talked about developing a more advanced and reliable biometric authentication method using ultrasonic fingerprint scanning technology in March last year . And now, on the eve of the launch of the first smartphone based on the flagship Snapdragon 820 processor, Sense ID technology was introduced by Steve Mollenkopf, CEO of the company, at the recent CES 2016 exhibition .
An advanced 3D scanner sensor, equipped with an ultrasonic wave transceiver unit, allows you to collect significantly more individual information. The waves generated by the transmitter and reflected from the surface of the finger are recorded by the signal receiver, forming a detailed three-dimensional image of the fingerprint. The sensitivity level and resolution of the signal receiver allow not only to read the papillary pattern, but also to fix additional key useful information, such as the depth of the grooves and the height of locally protruding fragments of the skin relief and even the specific location of the sweat pores of the skin.
Thus, Qualcomm’s innovative sensor allows you to get not a two-dimensional, but a detailed three-dimensional “fingerprint card” containing a significantly larger amount of identifying information, which reduces to zero the probability of a smartphone breaking by the described method.
Another advantage of Sense ID technology is the ability of ultrasound to penetrate metal surfaces, glass and some plastics, which will allow you to allocate a local space for the sensor directly below the screen of the device, rather than fixing a separate area for it, for example, in Google Nexus or iPhone. In addition, which is very important, the reading process and the accuracy of information identification in this case are not tied to external influence factors, such as wet or not too clean hands and exposure to low temperatures.
The first model with a Sense ID sensor available to users will be the Chinese LeTV Le Max Pro smartphone based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset.
Given Qualcomm’s actively developing partnership with market players such as Apple, Samsung, and Motorola, it is likely that the new product will be implemented in the near future the flagship models of these manufacturers and will prove to be in demand in the market is quite high.
Source 1 , Source 2 .
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As you know, sensors that scan fingerprints and use the information received as a user identifier is one of the most popular trends actively introduced by many manufacturers of smartphones and mobile computers. This identification method is convenient and relatively simple, has a number of advantages, but it is not without drawbacks, which directly affect the level of security of confidential data.
Recall that a few days after the start of sales of the iPhone 5S, a team of German hackers Chaos Computer Club (CCC) posted step-by-step instructions on the site, demonstrating the ease of hacking the Touch ID fingerprint scanner installed in the then flagship smartphone Apple. Note that Touch ID is currently installed in other Apple products, including iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro, iPad mini 3 and iPad mini 4 tablets.
The essence of the method used by hackers came down to photographing the fingerprint of the phone’s owner in 2400 dpi (dots per inch) resolution, minimal editing of the image in Photoshop, its subsequent inversion and printing on a laser printer in resolution 1200 dpi on the surface of a standard transparent sheet, which can be purchased in the photo store. After the resulting papillary pattern was smeared with carpentry glue. The adhesive film obtained after drying can easily be separated and can be placed on the fingerprint reader by any person interested in obtaining confidential information of the smartphone owner.
As CCC spokeswoman Frank Rieger stated in his commentary on the material, “... False claims of the benefits that the biometric industry opens up leaves society in the cold.” Not addressing the security issues of access to confidential information, biometrics technology was created as a way of oppression and control. In this case, information that cannot be changed is used as a cryptographic key. Moreover, it is left in the form of fully working copies every hour and everywhere, ”he concluded.
September 2013 Demonstrating the ability to unlock TouchID in iPhone5S
The process does not seem too complicated, although the implementation of the hacking method in practice requires several conditions to be met: a clearly defined goal, the ability to get a fingerprint of the right finger of the owner in the right resolution, and a minimum set of appropriate equipment. Immediately after the release of the video, Apple was subjected to a flurry of criticism for developing a function that does not increase, but, on the contrary, reduces the level of protection of the smartphone. Having taken the path of increasing access comfort, the Cupertinians in this case significantly simplified the process of access to confidential information.
Of course, the information released by the CCC did not affect the choice of the majority of average users in favor of the convenience of the TouchID function, but in some cases it definitely made them think who are not too cautiously saving valuable information on their smartphones.
Qualcomm 3-D Sense ID Fingerprint Scanner
Qualcomm first talked about developing a more advanced and reliable biometric authentication method using ultrasonic fingerprint scanning technology in March last year . And now, on the eve of the launch of the first smartphone based on the flagship Snapdragon 820 processor, Sense ID technology was introduced by Steve Mollenkopf, CEO of the company, at the recent CES 2016 exhibition .
An advanced 3D scanner sensor, equipped with an ultrasonic wave transceiver unit, allows you to collect significantly more individual information. The waves generated by the transmitter and reflected from the surface of the finger are recorded by the signal receiver, forming a detailed three-dimensional image of the fingerprint. The sensitivity level and resolution of the signal receiver allow not only to read the papillary pattern, but also to fix additional key useful information, such as the depth of the grooves and the height of locally protruding fragments of the skin relief and even the specific location of the sweat pores of the skin.
Thus, Qualcomm’s innovative sensor allows you to get not a two-dimensional, but a detailed three-dimensional “fingerprint card” containing a significantly larger amount of identifying information, which reduces to zero the probability of a smartphone breaking by the described method.
Another advantage of Sense ID technology is the ability of ultrasound to penetrate metal surfaces, glass and some plastics, which will allow you to allocate a local space for the sensor directly below the screen of the device, rather than fixing a separate area for it, for example, in Google Nexus or iPhone. In addition, which is very important, the reading process and the accuracy of information identification in this case are not tied to external influence factors, such as wet or not too clean hands and exposure to low temperatures.
The first model with a Sense ID sensor available to users will be the Chinese LeTV Le Max Pro smartphone based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset.
Given Qualcomm’s actively developing partnership with market players such as Apple, Samsung, and Motorola, it is likely that the new product will be implemented in the near future the flagship models of these manufacturers and will prove to be in demand in the market is quite high.
Source 1 , Source 2 .
Our other articles and events