Using Samsung Galaxy S10/Note 10? Replace your fingerprint right now
Samsung has issued a major warning for people using its latest flagships - Galaxy S10, S10+ and Note 10, Note 10+. The company has said that the phones' in-display fingerprint scanners suffer from a critical security vulnerability, an issue that needs to be resolved by replacing the fingerprint registered on the devices. Here's more about the issue and its fix.
First, you should know about the issue
Over the last week, several S10 and Note 10 users reported that the Qualcomm-powered Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner of their phones worked even when used by an unauthorized person. The problem raised major alarms, with media outlets detailing that the issue stems from certain silicone screen protectors, which, being pliable, capture the fingerprint of an authorized user and use it whenever pressure is applied.
Samsung acknowledged the bug, promised a fix
As the issue broke the biometric security of S and Note series, allowing anyone to access their data, Samsung acknowledged the problem. The company confirmed that the phones were unlocking after "recognizing 3-dimensional patterns appearing on certain silicone (gel) screen protecting cases as users' fingerprints." But, it also said that the issue will be fixed in the week of October 21.
Now, Samsung wants users to ditch their screen protectors
Along with the confirmation, Samsung also issued an advisory urging users to ditch these silicone screen protectors. The action, the South Korean giant said, will prevent the phones from accepting unauthorized fingerprints until the fix is available. Notably, it also claimed that once the software patch starts rolling out, you'd have to re-register your fingerprint on the device.
Here's what Samsung said
"A software update is planned to be released as early as next week, and once updated, please be sure to scan your fingerprint in its entirety, so that all portions of your fingerprint, including the center and corners have been fully scanned."
Samsung is not the only one suffering
While the issue in Samsung flagships is scary, it is worth noting this is not the only biometric issue that has surfaced over the last few days. A recent report from BBC flagged that Google Pixel 4's Face Unlock can work even when the authorized user is asleep. This meant that anyone with physical access to your phone could unlock it while you're sleeping.
