Hackers Claim Victory Over iPhone 5S Fingerprint Sensor 'Touch ID'

Hackers Claim Victory Over 'Touch ID'

Hackers claim they have 'cracked' the new iPhone 5S fingerprint sensor, but don't worry - their method is a bit more Blue Peter than Mission Impossible.

The team from Chaos Computer Club in Germany showed that they could take a fingerprint from glass with a photograph, and then use that picture to make a fake that can unlock an iPhone with Touch ID enabled.

The method involves little more than some wood glue, some glass, a camera and a laser printer. They say it proves that Apple's fingerprint tech is not quite as unique as some claimed.

The team writes:

"The biometrics hacking team of the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) has successfully bypassed the biometric security of Apple's TouchID using easy everyday means. A fingerprint of the phone user, photographed from a glass surface, was enough to create a fake finger that could unlock an iPhone 5s secured with TouchID."

Admittedly, the 'hack' would require a thief to have accurate fingerprints ahead of time - a level of planning that would probably imply you have bigger problems than a stolen or 'borrowed' phone.

Still it's an interesting insight into the technology - and it might be something to keep in mind when deciding what level of security to use on your new device.

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