Hackers Trick Face ID with 3-D Printed Mask

Hackers Trick Face ID with 3-D Printed Mask

Days after the iPhone X’s official release, hackers in Vietnam have successfully tricked Face ID and unlocked the smartphone with a 3-D-printed mask.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Nov 15, 2017

Days after the iPhone X’s official release, hackers in Vietnam have successfully tricked Face ID and unlocked the smartphone with a 3-D-printed mask.

Vietnamese security firm Bkav Corporation, which previously showed the ability to bypass facial recognition on laptops in 2008, has posted a video showing the new Apple smartphone unlocking when presented with a 3D mask of a face.

At the iPhone X launch event, Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller said that Apple had “worked with professional mask makers and makeup artists in Hollywood to protect against these attempts to beat Face ID.” Apple used these masks to “train the neural network” to distinguish masks from real faces and “protect against them in Face ID,” Schiller said.

According to a Q&A on its site, Bkav started working on their mask after receiving the iPhone X on launch day, Nov. 5. “We used a popular 3D printer. Nose was made by a handmade artist. We use 2D printing for other parts (similar to how we tricked Face Recognition 9 years ago). The skin was also hand-made to trick Apple's AI,” Bkav said. The mask cost about $150 to make.

Bkav said its hack was an “experiment” and a “Proof of Concept, the purpose of which is to prove a principle.” It added that potential targets would not be regular iPhone X users, but “billionaires, leaders of major corporations, nation leaders”.

Some security experts are not sure this poses a risk to iPhone X users at all. “In order to compromise Face ID authentication, the attacker would have to have a detailed map of the face of the user, create a mask that would map the exact details of the victim’s face, unlock the phone within five attempts and do all of this within 48 hours,” said Paul Norris, senior systems engineer – EMEA at Tripwire. “This seems like an unlikely sequence of events.”

Bkav said that when it comes to biometric security, a fingerprint scanner is the most secure method.

Watch Bkav’s video on the Face ID hack below:

 

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Maximizing Your Security Budget This Year

    Perimeter Security Standards for Multi-Site Businesses

    When you run or own a business that has multiple locations, it is important to set clear perimeter security standards. By doing this, it allows you to assess and mitigate any potential threats or risks at each site or location efficiently and effectively. Read Now

  • Getting in Someone’s Face

    There was a time, not so long ago, when the tradeshow industry must have thought COVID-19 might wipe out face-to-face meetings. It sure seemed that way about three years ago. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

  • Live From ISC West 2024: Post-Show Recap

    ISC West 2024 is complete. And from start to finish, the entire conference was a huge success with almost 30,000 people in attendance. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

  • ISC West 2024 is a Rousing Success

    The 2024 ISC West security tradeshow marked a pivotal moment in the industry, showcasing cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions to address evolving security challenges. Exhibitors left the event with a profound sense of satisfaction, as they witnessed a high level of engagement from attendees and forged valuable connections with potential clients and partners. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening. 3

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction. 3

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3