Samsung Galaxy S8 facial recognition can be fooled with a photograph

Samsung released its latest flagship smartphone, the much awaited Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. One of the interesting features of the phone is that it lets you login via multiple means – fingerprint scanner, iris scanner, facial recognition and your standard password/PIN/patterns login.

But in a latest video released by iDeviceHelp, facial recognition may not really be a safe method to log in. The video shows how the facial recognition feature can be easily fooled by showing it a photograph of your face. While it does not happen instantaneously, someone with not so noble intentions can still unlock the phone using a photo of yours, if they are really intent.

According to Business Insider, Samsung has said that the facial recognition feature isn’t as secure as fingerprint or iris scanner. This begs the question, as to why have it in the first place then. Windows Hello by Microsoft uses special sensors to analyse the contours of your face and that is how they determine a match.

(Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S8: On the fence? Here are 8 arguments to convince you to pick one up today)

Although the iDeviceHelp video says that the facial recognition feature may not be the final version as the demo units shown at the event were yet to feature a fully baked software, Bixby and so on.

Either way, it seems practical to opt for other authentication features such as iris scanning which is much more effective, fingerprint sensor or even your regular pattern unlock.

(Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S8: Five changes loyal fans will need to get used to)

Now that we know everything about the device, the bigger question is: When can we get our hands on it?

Well, if you’re in the US, the device will be available form 21 April onwards. Launch dates for the rest of the world, particularly in India, are unknown.

If you’re in the US, you can pre-order the device today. Bookings are already open and the device will be delivered by 21 April. If you’re in India, however, you can’t yet pre-order the device. In fact, the registration page for pre-ordering doesn’t seem to exist yet.

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