Samsung Galaxy S10 Fingerprint Lock Is No Longer Very Secure
The Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 + were recently discovered to have a major security flaw that makes it easy to bypass their fingerprint lock. On a scale of one to not good, we are definitely right on this point.
In all fairness, fingerprint sensors and other biometric security features are not reliable; hackers can successfully bypass such security measures , albeit with a lot of effort. However, the Galaxy S10’s fingerprint sensor can be tricked by simply adding a screen protector or phone case made of silicone, tempered glass, or plastic. The tampering from the protective material appears to be enough to confuse the sensor, so any fingertip can unlock the phone. (Ugh.)
Samsung has launched an internal investigation in response to complaints, but it may take some time before an official fix appears – hopefully not, given the widespread ramifications of this issue. For now, the company recommends that Galaxy S10 and S10 + owners only use Samsung phone accessories and cases, but this tip really only helps to make your own fingerprint clearer for the S10 sensor. It won’t actually improve the security of your phone.
The simplest solution is to simply ditch the protective accessories of your Galaxy S10 or S10 +, but that doesn’t do much as someone can easily pick up your phone and put on the case to take advantage of the fingerprint error. While it may be wise to switch to a different screen lock method at this point, it can also be bypassed by a smart enough hacker. Be especially careful about the location of your phone and who you authorize to use it , and have a contingency plan to protect your data if your phone – or personal data – ever gets stolen .