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The Galaxy S5's fingerprint reader can be fooled by fake digits
It looks like the iPhone 5s isn't the only smartphone whose fingerprint reader can be fooled by fake digits. SR Labs has just posted a video (shown below) showing that Samsung's just-launched Galaxy S5 is susceptible to the same trick: as long as you have a good photo of a latent print (such as one from the touchscreen), you can create a mold that passes for a real finger. The lab also claims that Samsung's approach may ultimately be less secure than Apple's, since you're not forced to enter a passcode under certain conditions (such as a reboot) and can use the fingerprint to make PayPal transactions.
Samsung's Galaxy S5 is trickier to repair than its ancestor
An easily expandable phone isn't always an easily repairable phone. If you need proof, take a look at iFixit's newly completed teardown of the Galaxy S5. While Samsung's latest flagship gets some kudos for its removable battery and microSD slot, it's considerably tougher to take apart than its GS4 predecessor. You now have to remove the display if you want to replace any of the internals, and the removal process is especially tricky; part replacements are only easy once you're past this daunting hurdle. There aren't any surprises under the hood, although it's worth noting that Samsung is using a Maxim heart rate sensor chip and a Synaptics fingerprint reader. From all indications, the GS5 is still easier to fix than some phones we know -- it's just not the walk in the park that we saw last year.
Why did Apple's Touch ID elicit paranoia while Samsung's Galaxy S5 flies under the radar?
When Apple first announced the Touch ID feature for the iPhone 5s, we were treated to a few weeks of misplaced paranoia that, if you didn't know any better, would have you believe that Apple was stockpiling user fingerprint data with the intention of selling them to the highest bidder. Despite a number of security precautions Apple implemented with Touch ID, many in the blogosphere were quick to ring alarm bells. Senator Al Franken even went so far as to write a letter to Tim Cook airing his concerns. It reads in part: What's more, a password doesn't uniquely identify its owner-a fingerprint does. Let me put it this way: if hackers get a hold of your thumbprint, they could use it to identify and impersonate you for the rest of your life. And then there were the endless stream of articles detailing the myriad number of ways people might be able to easily spoof a Touch ID user's fingerprint. The epitome of this bizarre paranoia came in the form of a unintentionally comical Toronto Star article which listed 10 reasons why Apple's Touch ID is a "bad idea." Yet oddly enough, when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S5 earlier this week with its own fingerprint authorization scheme, no one seemed to pay it any mind. Never mind the fact that Samsung's fingerprint sensor will be available to third-party developers and that the company announced a partnership with PayPal to enable mobile purchasing. In short, Samsung is clearly going all in while Apple, in typical fashion, decided to take a more measured approach. TechCrunch writes: Apple went to great lengths to emphasize just how segmented its fingerprint scanner was from the rest of the hardware, and how isolated (read: protected from hackers) the data that it gathered was. Fingerprint information collected by the iPhone 5s scanner hardware built into Apple's home button is held on a 'secure enclave' within the A7 system-on-a-chip, and communicated to other services only as an encrypted alias that conveys no sensitive data. Now I don't think any of the brouhaha surrounding Apple's Touch ID was warranted, nor do I think Samsung should be put through the ringer for its implementation. But as John Gruber essentially asks, isn't it bizarre that Apple's Touch ID resulted in a storm of paranoia while a similar feature from Samsung seemingly flies under the radar? But how come so many people lost their sh*t over the clearly more-secure iPhone fingerprint sensor, and there's not a peep about Samsung's? Where's the letter to Samsung from Senator Al Franken? Looking ahead, it stands to reason that Apple has its eyes on expanding the scope of Touch ID beyond its current ability to authorize iTunes purchases. During Apple's most recent earnings conference call, Tim Cook said flat-out that mobile payments was one of the underlying ideas behind Touch ID. "The mobile payments area in general is one that we've been intrigued with," Cook told analysts last month. "It was one of the thoughts behind Touch ID." That said, it'll be really interesting to see how the media responds to any future Apple announcements regarding the expansion of Touch ID. I wonder what the Vegas odds are on Al Franken penning a letter to Tim Cook once again.
Apple explains how the iPhone's fingerprint sensor keeps your info secure
If you've ever wanted to know how the iPhone 5s' Touch ID fingerprint security works beyond a basic overview, you'll be glad to hear Apple has just delivered a motherlode of new details. An updated version of its iOS Security white paper (PDF) explains much of what happens to your finger data after you touch the sensor. In short, your information may be more hack-resistant than it seems at first glance. Each A7 chip has a unique secure space that neither the A7 nor Apple can read, and every authentication session is encrypted end-to-end. The company is also offering a deeper explanation of what it does with your fingerprint image, noting that the print only lasts in memory until it's turned into a decryption key. As we've known for a while, there are safeguards that wipe out that key after 48 hours of inactivity, a reboot or five failed login attempts. While the new insights will only have so much usefulness when developers can't use Touch ID for their own apps, they suggest that there's little to no chance of fingerprint theft or a large-scale data breach.
Vivo Xplay 3S unveiled with a 6-inch 2K display, powerful audio amp and fingerprint reader
We came away rather impressed with the Vivo Xplay from China, so today's launch of its successor, the Xplay 3S (which is a bit odd as there was never an "Xplay 2"), is something that we've been looking forward to since the teaser way back in October. As mentioned before, this new Android phone is still the first to pack a 2K (2,560 x 1,440) display, which works out to be a ridiculously high 490ppi density on the 6-inch panel. Like other recent Vivo phones, you'll find a pair of dedicated audio chips on the Xplay 3S -- here you have ESS Technology's ES9018 DAC and Texas Instruments' OPA2604 amplifier, both of which are said to be the crème de la crème in their respective categories. This should go nicely with the built-in DTS Headphone:X feature that brings 7.1 or even 11.1 surround sound effect to your stereo headphones; plus Vivo's video streaming service already hosts about 200 Headphone:X-capable movies (along with over 400 movies in 1080p and over 1,000 movies in 720p), with more to be added each month.
Apple patent filing adds trackpad functions to home button and turns entire display into fingerprint sensor
Arguably the most notable characteristic of the iPhone 5s is the TouchID fingerprint sensor, which lets you unlock your phone and authorize app purchases simply by resting a pre-authenticated fingertip on the home button. It turns out, however, that Apple might've had plans for the technology that go far beyond just that. According to a patent application filed with the World International Property Organization, the Cupertino company may use TouchID's sensor technology to transform the Home button into a trackpad, similar to the ones on BlackBerry's older line of Curve handhelds. Indeed, the patent filing describes how users could navigate the phone by "revolving" or "twisting" their fingerprint on the button's sensor. Additionally, the sensor could measure the length of time and amount of pressure that is placed on it, which might lead to more interesting use-cases in apps or games. What's even more intriguing, however, is that the document goes on to describe how the entire display can be used to read your fingerprints. This sounds like a crazy idea at first, but if implemented, the phone would then know exactly which finger of which hand is on the screen. This could lead to certain actions mapped to specific digits -- perhaps a long-press of your index finger could launch Maps, while a pinch of your pinky and thumb could open up Messages, for example. A few diagrams from the patent application show how screen-wide fingerprint recognition could be used for playing a piano or touch-typing on the virtual keyboard. If you're concerned that this could lead to serious battery drain, the patent even addresses that, stating that the phone would be smart enough to recognize when it's in moments of fingerprint recognition (i.e. "enhanced sensitivity") or when it's normal everyday use, otherwise known as "reduced sensitivity." Further, it seems that enhanced sensitivity could just be restricted to small screen areas so that only certain apps -- like banking or email perhaps -- would be cloaked in that extra layer of protection. Of course, just because such functionality is filed away in a patent application doesn't mean we'll see this in real life. However, taken with the promise of Apple's recent acquisition, we'll admit we're very interested to see how the iPhone 6 will turn out. Those interested in patent minutiae can go ahead and peruse the rather lengthy 612-page document in the link below.
Alleged HTC One successor leaked, may pack fingerprint reader above camera
HTC seems to be having a hard time keeping its 2014 flagships tucked behind the curtain: first the Butterfly 2, and now this. If the leakster from Baidu Tieba forum is to be believed, we're apparently looking at a blue chassis of the HTC "M8" which, according to @evleaks, will be the first device to feature HTC's upcoming Sense 6.0 interface. Combining this and the fact that the HTC One is codenamed M7, chances are the similar-looking M8 will replace said flagship device next year. While the spy shots are of low resolution, you can still spot a couple of physical changes on the M8. Most notably, there's a mysterious hole above the camera, and the leakster -- who denies being an insider -- suggests it could be for a second camera. Our money's on a fingerprint reader à la One Max, except for the adjusted position to accommodate our index finger while holding the smaller phone. The chassis' metal also extends to around the edges, thus eliminating the need of "zero gap injection" that increased production difficulty for the current HTC One. Besides, it looks rather nice in the photos. Lastly, the same person also shared a photo (posted after the break) of a gold-colored HTC One chassis, which supports an earlier leak from September. Seems like HTC's keeping this one for the holidays, but of course, the real gold version is already available if you have extra cash to burn.
AuthenTec co-founder talks Touch ID, shows off early prototypes of fingerprint-authorization device
Without question, the flagship feature on Apple's iPhone 5s is Touch ID. Conveniently located beneath the home button, Apple's Touch ID is inconspicuous and provides a quick and seamless way for users to protect their device without having to enter in a passcode every five minutes. The technology Touch ID is based on, however, didn't always come in such a small package. In fact, early prototype devices showcasing the technology were quite large. Apple's Touch ID is based on technology the company acquired when it purchased AuthenTec for about US$356 million in 2012. Earlier this week, AuthenTec co-founder F. Scott Moody delivered a speech at North Carolina State University -- his alma mater -- where he talked about the technology's origins and its subsequent acquisition by Apple. AppleInsider was able to attend the talk, relaying a number of interesting tidbits about the technology that powers Apple's Touch ID. Again, early prototypes housing AuthenTec's fingerprint authorization technology were extremely large, as evidenced by the photo below. Over time, however, AuthenTec was able to significantly shrink all the necessary components down into a much more practical and commercially viable package. Another interesting nugget of information is that AuthenTec, in refining its fingerprint technology, consulted with a number of dermatologists in an effort to get the feature working as flawlessly as possible. AppleInsider adds: Once the early technology and size issues were resolved, the AuthenTec team worked to make the sensor even more embeddable and sleek. Along the way, he said, there was a lot of trial and error and failed experiments, but he and his team learned from each of them as they refined their technology. When AuthenTec came out with their final product, the company generated interest from a number of customers, including Apple, Motorola and Fujitsu. Apple, in particular, "ate it up," Moody said, and eventually bought the entire company in 2012 for $356 million. With respect to Apple's immense interest in the technology, remember that Apple, back in August of 2012, filed a PREM14A proxy statement with the SEC, thereby providing a number of details surrounding the AuthenTec acquisition. Specifically, the proxy statement shows that Apple wanted to strike a deal as quickly as possible. During the negotiation process, for example, Apple indicated to AuthenTec that it would not participate in a bidding war for the technology with other companies. What's more, Apple informed AuthenTec that it would rescind its offer if the company "decided to solicit alternative acquisition proposals..." The statement also reads in part: Representatives of Apple then outlined a proposed transaction structure and the process and timeline for negotiating the transaction. Representatives of Apple also noted Apple's desire to proceed quickly due to its product plans and ongoing engineering efforts. If you're uber-curious about the process involved in the AuthenTec acquisition, The Next Web has a nice article detailing all of the highlights from Apple's proxy statement over here.
Samsung is not buying a fingerprint scanning company, 'completely false' release distributed (updated)
Between the iPhone 5s and the forthcoming HTC One Max, it looks as if biometric security will be the next big mobile battleground. Not to be done, of course, Samsung has just splashed out $650 million on Swedish firm Fingerprint Cards AB. The company has already crafted a swipe sensor that works on mobile devices like the Galaxy S 4, and has similar technology working with Windows 8.1 devices. The unit will be turned into a separate division of the Korean behemoth, and the re-named Samsung Fingerprint Cards Division will be run by AB's current CEO, Johan Carlström. Update: Investor relations site Cision tells the Financial Times the press release it sent out confirming the sale was "completely false" and that it's investigating. We've checked with Samsung who confirmed that the report was not true, and that it was not aware of where the news came from. The initial press release as well as a new one from Fingerprint Cards AB can be found after the break. Update 2: Fingerprint Cards added that "what has happened will be reported to the police and to the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority." There's definitely something fishy going on here.
iOS 7 video tip: Associating Touch ID fingerprints with fingers
Today's iOS 7 video tip is for iPhone 5s owners who want to know more about Touch ID fingerprints. While the device simply stores fingerprints as "Fingerprint 1," "Fingerprint 2" and so on, you might want to know which finger corresponds to that title. We'll show you how, courtesy of the original written tip by Jeff Gamet of The Mac Observer. You can then edit those titles so you know exactly what fingerprint data is stored in each file, or even delete a fingerprint from Touch ID. As with all of our other video tips, this one can be set to full-screen for easier viewing.
Synaptics' new acquisition could bring fingerprint readers to most laptops
If you hadn't heard, fingerprint readers are in vogue these days. Synaptics clearly knows it: the company just acquired Validity, a firm that specializes in finger-based authentication. The $92.5 million deal gives Synaptics both access to the biometric market as well as a complement to its existing touch input devices. While the company isn't detailing its plans, it's easy to see the potential impact. When Synaptics makes the majority of laptop trackpads, there's a real chance that fingerprint sign-ins on PCs could become commonplace.
Android phones with FIDO-based fingerprint readers to arrive in early 2014
The FIDO Alliance hinted that mobile fingerprint readers would play a part in its passcode-free strategy, and it turns out that we'll see those readers quite soon. Group president Michael Barrett tells USA Today that Android smartphones with FIDO-based fingerprint readers should be available in about six months, or early 2014. While the Alliance isn't saying which companies are launching those devices, we'd expect FIDO members like Lenovo and LG to embrace the technology first. As for other platforms? Barrett believes that Apple's Touch ID could work with FIDO, but we wouldn't count on it when Apple is still hesitant to embrace third-party developers.
Fujitsu's latest Arrows Tab packs a multi-user fingerprint reader
For Fujitsu, fingerprint readers on smartphones are old hat; on Android tablets, however, they're still rare. The company should make those sensors easier to find with its latest Arrows Tab, the FJT21. The 10.1-inch slate uses its fingerprint reader to streamline Android 4.2's multi-user support, signing anyone in with a swipe. Families can also implement both a simple mode for newcomers and a content-restricted kids' mode. Fujitsu isn't leaning solely on sign-in technology to sell its tablet, though. The FJT21 centers on a 2,560 x 1,600 LCD with Gorilla Glass 3 protection; under the hood, there's a fast 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 1.3-megapixel front camera and 64GB of expandable storage. Japan's KDDI will ship an LTE-equipped version of the new Arrows Tab in late November. Sadly, it's doubtful that we'll see an equivalent model reach the US.
Pantech Vega LTE-A gains fingerprint-based mobile payments
Want to find a nifty use for the fingerprint sensor on the Pantech Vega LTE-A? Well, thanks to the hard work of two South Korean companies, it's picking up the ability to pay for goods by authenticating with your fingerprint. This news comes from Danal, a mobile payment provider, which tapped the fingerprint technologies of Crucialtec to create the BarTong app. While the concept of fingerprint-based payments isn't entirely new, it's claimed to be an industry first for the mobile phone. The BarTong app is currently exclusive to South Korea, but its creator is looking to expand the payment service into the US and China. Naturally, Danal may want to hold off until fingerprint readers become more widespread in smartphones, but we certainly won't fault the company for being ambitious.
Chaos Computer Club says it's beaten Apple's Touch ID fingerprint reader (video)
Already feeling secure about using just your fingerprint to unlock the new iPhone 5S? European hacker association Chaos Computer Club claims it can be circumvented with "easy everyday means." According to CCC hacker "Starbug", tactics laid out in a how-to from 2004 are all that are required, with just a higher res fake needed to beat the Touch ID reader. The process, requires a 2400 DPI photograph of someone's fingerprint from a glass surface, which is then laser printed at 1200 DPI and used to create a thin latex sheet that serves as the fake. Simple, right? It's a bit more labor intensive than the old way (just watching someone input their passcode or pattern) but users may want to consider fingerprint access as a measure intended more for convenience than security. [Thanks, Frederic]
Apple's "incremental approach" to innovation hides in plain sight
There's a great line from the exceptionally addicting television series Breaking Bad where drug kingpin Gus Fring explains why he humbly runs a fast food chicken restaurant and even donates to police related causes. "I hide in plain sight," he says. So too does Apple's innovation hide from the critical eyes of analysts and investors who reacted to Apple's iPhone announcements with a collective sigh. For reasons that defy explanation, Apple alone is seemingly held up to a standard of innovation that no company could ever live up to. So like clockwork, Apple's iPhone announcements last week were followed by the same tired arguments about how the company has lost its luster, and rather bizarrely, how the company needs to innovate faster. While the flaws in these commonly levied assertions have been pointed out time and time again, Glen Fleishman recently addressed the issue in an insightful article that's worth reading in its entirety. Responding to claims that Apple's iPhone announcements lacked pizazz, Fleishman writes: My reply is that Apple makes its living through punctuated equilibrium, not through disruption. Revolutions are hard; small but significant improvements are far easier. The all-in-one iMac, the MacBook Air, the iPod, the iPhone, and iPad all changed the way in which the entire industry created similar products. Those were released at years-long intervals, not every year. The reality is that products like the iPhone simply don't come around every single year, or even every 4 years. If they did, they wouldn't be as revolutionary and groundbreaking when launched. With that in mind, Fleishman astutely points out that while not every product Apple releases is revolutionary, many of Apple's design choices go on to have widespread influence on the tech industry at large. These innovations, like Gus Fring, often hide in plain sight. Starting with the iMac, Fleishman writes: Floppy drives hung on, but USB quickly became much more widely adopted because peripheral makers created stuff for Macs that could also be used with Windows systems. All-in-one designs became de rigueur. The MacBook Air, after being ridiculed and after necessary improvements in various features, became the model for "ultrabooks," a category into which Intel poured hundreds of millions of dollars to help PC makers produce their own versions with varying levels of success. More often than not, industry-wide changes prompted by Apple aren't readily apparent at the outset, but with the benefit of hindsight, Apple's influence is obvious and far-reaching. The technology used in Apple's products is typically not new, but the implementation is routinely best in class; and that's when competitors really start to take notice and industry-wide change can be affected. The iPhone serves as a perfect example. Initially mocked by tech pundits for not having a QWERTY keyboard, capacitive touchscreens are now ubiquitous. It's hardly a coincidence that the one company that blindly tried to keep QWERTY keyboards alive -- RIM -- is floundering. Apple approaches innovation methodically, slowly but surely adding value and features to its product line. Each new feature by itself may not seem like much, but over time, as we take a step back and look at these features as a whole, the subtle flair of Apple's innovation prowess becomes apparent. So how does this relate back to the iPhone 5s? Well, as some critics bemoan the fact that it's not a revolutionary new product, there are a bevy of notable new features and improvements that, taken together, make the iPhone 5s an absolutely impressive device. Fleishman writes: But the 5s has just enough to be interesting: the new camera features are intriguing (slow-mo, burst mode, auto-selection of "best" shots, bigger individual sensors and thus better low-light shots, bigger maximum aperture, two-color LED flash mixing), the fingerprint sensor sounds like a way to get security and avoid irritation, and one wants to wait and see what happens with a 64-bit processor and the separate motion processor. Toss in iOS 7, the potential for iBeacons and MFi controllers and more, and there's a whole lot of innovation bubbling underneath the surface. So yes, Apple's annual iPhone upgrades in and of themselves may not be revolutionary, but the hardware and software improvements Apple has implemented over time are extremely impressive. Even the leap from the iPhone 4s (a product that's not even two years old) to the iPhone 5s is astounding. Daring Fireball's John Gruber astutely pointed out recently that "innovation is missed by most people because it is so often incremental." Indeed, look at how quickly camera quality on the iPhone, for instance, has improved in just a few years. As a final point, a quote from Apple Senior VP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi in a USA Today interview perfectly illustrates how Apple's innovations, again, hide in plain sight. Oh they exist alright, but because Apple takes pains to make sure the user experience is as seamless and simple as possible, sometimes you may not even pay it any mind. Talking about the new Touch ID on the iPhone 5s, Federighi is enthused: "This right here is what I love about Apple, this incredibly sophisticated powerful technology that you're almost not aware of, it absolutely blows me away," he says. "You can't get this without working cross-functionally." Federighi is quick to admit that any engineer tasked with such a challenge would be sure to call attention to his brilliant work. "You know, you're going to have some big message saying 'Scanning!' and buzz-buzz-zzz-zzz later it says 'Authenticated,' blink-blink-blink, with 10 seconds of animation," he says, as Ive starts laughing. "Ultimately we realized all that had to disappear," says Federighi. "If it disappears, we know we've done it."
Comparing the iPhone 5s fingerprint scanner and older technologies
Since Apple unveiled the new Touch ID fingerprint scanner on the iPhone 5s a few days ago, the internet has been awash in, frankly, horrible reporting about its ability and consequences. One thing repeated over and over again is that fingerprint readers are buggy, prone to breaking after 500 scans and difficult to use because you have to place your finger on it just right. And all that is true... for fingerprint readers back in 2003. That's when I first used a fingerprint reader that was built into a Windows laptop. It was horrible. Half the time, the fingerprint reader wouldn't recognize my finger. Some times it would, but only after I swiped it slowly and carefully -- something that took much longer than quickly typing in a password. But the thing is that since 2003, fingerprint readers have advanced. Heck, they've advanced since 2011. And the one built into the iPhone 5s is the most advanced consumer fingerprint scanner on the market. So if you have any assumptions that the fingerprint reader on the iPhone 5s is like any fingerprint reader you've used in the past, I urge you to check out this awesome piece by Mary Branscombe at CITEworld where she explains in detail why the iPhone's fingerprint sensor is better than the ones on older laptops. The whole article is worth a read, but here's the central gist of it that everyone needs to understand: With the new sensors you don't have to move your finger, just press it against the reader. And like the sensor in the iPhone 5S, the sensors that will be in laptops and keyboards and other phones can detect the ridge and valley pattern of your fingerprint not from the layer of dead skin on the outside of your finger (which a fake finger can easily replicate), but from the living layer of skin under the surface of your finger, using an RF signal. That only works on a live finger; not one that's been severed from your body. This will protect you from thieves trying to chop off your finger when they mug you for your phone (assuming they're tech-literate thieves, of course), as well as from people with fake fingers using the fingerprint they lifted from your phone screen. [via Daring Fireball]
iPhone 5s fingerprint reader has a timed safeguard, dislikes sweaty digits
Beyond the basics, Apple has said little of how the iPhone 5s Touch ID fingerprint reader works -- we mostly know that it's inaccessible to the outside world. Thankfully, the company has shed further light on Touch ID through statements to the Wall Street Journal. To start, iPhone owners will have to unlock with a passcode if they either reboot or haven't unlocked within 48 hours. The safeguard prevents hackers from simply biding their time while they look for a workaround, Apple says. Legitimate users will also want to keep their hands dry, as the reader doesn't work well with fingers covered in sweat and other liquids. You won't want to try unlocking immediately after running, then, but it's evident that Apple already knows many of Touch ID's real-world limitations.
Touch ID is huge for businesses and employees, but for different reasons
Apple's newly revealed iPhone 5s sports a number of improvements over its predecessor, but if there's one feature that truly sets the device apart from other iPhones (if not from all previous smartphones), it's Touch ID. The Touch ID sensor built into the home button of the 5s can read your fingerprint as an alternative to swipe-to-unlock or PIN/password entry. You can use this digital wizardry to make iTunes purchases and unlock the phone itself. This futuristic tech might be a fun tool for the average smartphone user, but the feature will truly shine when it enters the corporate scene. A big problem The business world is fighting a two-front war in the name of security: Companies are doing their best to keep information locked down (both to comply with internal policies as well as government-mandated privacy efforts like HIPAA), while at the same time corralling employees that see convenience as the only priority. Businesses large and small have relied on applications like Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync for years to set up secure mailboxes for employees running a wide array of devices. These days, smartphones are a huge area of concern thanks to the relative ease with which they are lost (compared to a laptop, for example) as well as a user base savvy enough to find ways around the policies in question. Mobile-device management tools (like Mobileiron, AirWatch and Apple's own MDM controls in OS X Server and iOS) are an essential part of the equation as enterprises balance productivity and bring-your-own-device policies with security and corporate priorities. "Hello all," a forum post on AndroidCentral begins. "My work recently implemented a new policy where the phone must be unlocked if using the exchange server email. My issue with it is I now loose [sic] my slide to unlock to the camera or other options based on the roms. Is there any way around it?" This isn't an isolated case of an employee seeking out loopholes to company security efforts -- it's happening every day, and it's not isolated to Android. A cursory search of jailbreak apps for iOS immediately produces options for bypassing company-enforced device locks. Users who seek out these solutions aren't doing so because they want to put sensitive business information -- or their own jobs -- in jeopardy; it's just a pain to type in a four-plus digit code every time they check their email or update their corporate social network. Similarly, the businesses that implement these lockdowns aren't necessarily the ones making the call; legal and regulatory constraints, in certain fields, may take priority. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), for example, mandates all healthcare employees who may have patient data on their smartphones -- including names, contact info, photographs and medical records -- set up passcodes and screen time-out features to ensure sensitive data isn't leaked. An elegant solution But now, on a mainstream smartphone platform, there will be a flagship device that offers both the convenience of a one-touch unlock and an unrivaled level of security. Touch ID addresses the concerns of businesses while giving users fewer reasons to seek out workarounds, and at the moment there is quite simply nothing to rival it. It's a win / win. Or a win / win / win if you count Apple, which stands to gain a lot of fans in the business security sector. Forward thinking indeed.
Daily Roundup: Apple's iPhone 5s and 5c hands-on, Touch ID fingerprint scanner, Moto X factory, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
