OnePlus 7 Pro's fingerprint scanner can be hacked in minutes
When it comes to market popularity, there is no match for the all-new OnePlus 7 Pro. The phone offers an incredible set of features, including a truly bezel-less display and a very impressive triple camera system. However, as it turns out, the latest flagship-killer from OnePlus might not be as good as you think on the security front. Here's why.
In-display fingerprint scanner can be easily fooled
Just like its predecessor, OnePlus 7 Pro also comes with an optical fingerprint scanner that rests under the display and photographs a user's fingerprint to unlock the device. The method is pretty reliable and faster than other in-display fingerprint scanners in the market, but YouTube channel Max Tech has shown that it can be hacked pretty easily.
Glue and tinfoil used to create fake fingerprint
In a recently shared YouTube video, Max Tech made a fake fingerprint using a technique called print molding. He layered a blob of hot glue on a piece of tinfoil and dabbed his wet finger - the one registered with the targeted OnePlus 7 Pro - to make an impression on the glue. Then, he applied some white school glue over that impression.
Then, fake fingerprint bypassed lockscreen
Once the white school glue dried up, the YouTuber peeled it away to get the fake fingerprint. This particular layer unlocked the device, giving him access even without touching it. Notably, the exact same method has been used to unlock other smartphones, including the OnePlus 6T and iPhone 5s, in the past.
Is this something to be worried about?
While the video highlights a way to compromise OnePlus 7 Pro, it's not something to be worried about. We say this because there's no vulnerability here; Max Tech is just mimicking a registered fingerprint to get access, which is really difficult to do in real scenarios. Essentially, to execute such an attack, a hacker would have to copy your fingerprints and steal your device.
Meanwhile, here's recalling the OnePlus 7 Pro
To recall, the OnePlus 7 Pro offers an uninterrupted all-screen design achieved by adopting a pop-up selfie camera. It boasts of a 93% screen-to-body ratio along with curved edges, an improved optical in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a premium metal-glass sandwiched body. Further, the phone sports a 6.67-inch QHD+ (1440x3120 pixels) fluid AMOLED display, a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, a 90Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support.
For the shutterbugs and selfie lovers
The camera is one department where OnePlus phones have trailed the top-tier competitors. However, the OnePlus 7 Pro bridges that gap pretty well for most users. The Multi-Autofocus (PDAF+LAF+CAF) triple-lens rear camera comprises a 48MP (f/1.7, OIS) main lens, an 8MP (f/2.4, OIS) telephoto lens which offers 3x optical zoom, and a 16MP (f/2.2) wide-angle lens. Up front, there's a 16MP (f/2.0) selfie snapper.
