What kind of Security is offered with iPhone X and is it enough?

Apple’s announcement of the new iPhone X for the 10 year anniversary comes with a great feature iPhone users have wanted since its use introduction on Samsung phones and Windows Hello, the new FaceID feature.

FaceID is a new way to log into your iPhone with just a quick look at your phone. Making big jumps into security like this is important as it allows us to keep our information secure with something unique to us that can’t be guessed. But, we also need to look at it from the other side, with a new way to log in how could this be taken advantage of by potential hackers and thieves.

Microsoft’s Hello which is a way to log into the Windows 10 platform, was beaten by SR Labs in 2015 with 3D models of test subjects faces. In Apple’s presentation, they had tried and tested these means and have accounted everything for optimal security. With this being early days for the new software, it is possible there is a way to defeat this security type with facial spoofing software, better 3D models or without the need of facial spoofing software, which has happened in previous versions of iOS.

When Apple launched iOS 4.2 there was a flaw in the programming which meant if a user opened the emergency call screen when locked and followed a command, they could access the Phone app and view all contacts and profiles within the phone. This happened again with iOS 6.1.

Most users are after security that will stop a thief being able to access your personal information, and it’s doubtful they’ll take a scan of your face before they leave with your phone. But, under US law a policeman will not require a warrant in order to get your fingerprint to open your device through TouchID as only keycodes/passwords are protected by the US Fifth Amendment.  It’s common for Lawyers, Activists, Journalists and more information sensitive careers have found themselves in situations at the US border to give up their thumbprint for their data to be searched.

Apple has introduced a force passcode mode with the introduction of iOS 11, but hitting the sleep button five times it’ll switch to passcode mode allowing your information to be protected by the fifth amendment.

Apple has admitted the chances of someone picking up your iPhone and being able to log in with TouchID is 1 in 50,000 but have commented that FaceID would be 1 in 1,000,000. Which would mean over 7000 people would be able to get into your phone, but it’s still a very slim chance.

Other features of the iPhone X are:
An Edge to Edge display, similar to the Samsung S8
Super Retina standard, Apple have developed a higher quality screen featuring HDR in Dolby Vision, True Tone, and HDR10
No Home Button, this is the first iPhone to remove the standardised button.
Portrait Lighting which enhances lighting effects to “professional studio” standards.
iOS 11 will feature new abilities and apps with a redesign to how Apple Pay works.
Wireless Charging has finally been introduced to the iPhone range without the need of a case.

 

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