Samsung Electronics‘ warned users of Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 users about privacy risks raised by some over the in-screen fingerprint scanner. According to reports, attaching the particular screen protector on the device can bypass the scanner.
Recent reports from foreign media outlets say that some owners of Galaxy S10 equipped with a screen protector from a third-party were able to unlock their smartphones by merely touching the fingerprint sensor.
The Sun, a U.K. newspaper, reported that an owner named Lisa Neilson registered her right thumb to unlock the screen of her Galaxy S10, but could also unlock the phone with her left thumb after the screen protector was on the device. She added that the same incident happened with her husband, as well.
Owners of the expensive smartphones are conveying their concerns over the security of their devices, as anyone can easily purchase the screen protector for about $3 on eBay.
A series of reports from both local and international confirmed that there is a problem with in-screen fingerprint scanners and that Samsung is currently investigating the problem. The company said it would be able to repair the issue as soon as possible with an upgrade with the smartphone’s software.
“We acknowledged the issues regarding errors with the fingerprint reader of our smartphones. We will soon release a software patch to solve the issue,” a Samsung official said.
Galaxy Note 10, released in August, faced a similar problem in the in-screen fingerprint scanner as numerous users reported the same issue in their devices.
Users are expressing their worries as the same biometric authentication is also involved in other features such as banking and other application that are sensitive to security.
The Galaxy S10 series hit the global market in the first quarter of 2019 and features the in-screen fingerprint scanner as one of its major selling points.
Samsung endorsed its ultrasonic fingerprint scanner as a “new biometric authentication” and also an “in-display fingerprint sensor fused into the Infinity-O Display, providing invisible yet vault-like security that keeps your data safe.”
Though, numerous media reports warned of some screen protectors that might prevent the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner from adequately working. Protectors might create gaps, and any discrepancy between the screen and the fingerprint may interrupt the transmission of the ultrasonic signal.
