For huge mobile phone manufacturers, working on the next big thing is the prevalent theme. However, South Korean tech giant Samsung might need to take a step back and re-evaluate its strategy for its flagship mobile phone, the Galaxy s10, and Note 10.
According to a blog post published by Internet security and consultancy firm Bleeping Computer on October 15, there is a security bug in the s10 and Note 10 devices. The security flaw discovered affects the fingerprint sensor, which allows anyone to unlock the phone using a cheap silicone phone case.
Faulty Fingerprint Sensor
The phone case in question comes with a $3.44 price tag, and it covers both the front and back of the phones. However, it has been discovered that this case could potentially confuse the fingerprint sensors.
By applying this hack, anyone could place a fingerprint on the sensor and gain access to the device. Even more worrying is the fact that the sensor works throughout all the apps on the mobile phones, meaning that anyone who takes advantage of the vulnerability will most likely be able to access banking apps, Emails, social media, and other important platforms.
According to an October 17 post from news medium Reuters, the South Korean tech giant acknowledged the presence of the vulnerability and promised to release a software patch that will address it once and for all soon.
Of course, the discovery of flaws in security features isn’t a new thing concerning mobile phones. Vulnerability reports appear on mobile phones almost every week, especially when the devices come from big manufacturers like Samsung or Apple Inc.
However, a security vulnerability that unlocks a phone for cheap could wreak havoc on consumers, and the result could be catastrophic.
The Evolution of the Unlock Feature
The evolution of the fingerprint unlock feature has been rapid in the past few years, with people going from just unlocking their phones with the feature to using it on their most important apps as well. It’s admittedly more convenient, and many believe that if it is enough to keep their phones safe, it will do a good job of safeguarding their apps and private data. Do you think the Samsung S10 security flaw is a critical issue? Is the process too much work for any thief to actually try? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!Images are courtesy of Shutterstock.
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