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FaceID Security [pdf]

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131–140 of 314 posts

Re: FaceID Security [pdf]

#131
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like fpgaminer's argument is that biometric keys can't be compromised because of "liveness tests". An argument against would have to rebut this assumption. My gut instinct tells me that this assumption is absurd, but I lack the specific knowledge of these systems to prove it.

> It sounds like fpgaminer's argument is that biometric keys can't be compromised because of "liveness tests". You're arrested, and the cops hold the phone up to your face to unlock it. That's a pretty big compromise, and there's literally nothing you can do to prevent it.

I heard in another comment in this thread it has focus detection, so you would have to look at the phone for it to unlock. Can not find any other source of this though.

Re: FaceID Security [pdf]

#132
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds like a cool feature, but probably applicable to 0.0001% of the population. Think of all the work app developers would need to do to make their app "duress compatible" in the very rare chance someone is being held at gunpoint and the person is asking to see their emails.

Not to mention incredibly difficult to pull off. It isn't like having two passwords, one distress password and one normal. An algorithm that needs to identify your face in any situation AND detect subtle characteristics? I don't see that being a reality with our current technology. Or at least without significant false positives. Though a two password feature would be nice and easy to implement.

It could be something as simple as having one eye closed when under duress(sorry, monoculars!). It only takes one unlock attempt to then lock it down. Bonus with this is that LE couldn't hold the phone up to your face while you are sleeping to unlock it.

Re: FaceID Security [pdf]

#133

The problem I have is with the lack of TouchID. FaceID is fine. But, I don't always want to have to stop what I'm doing, loooook at the phone and then proceed. Sometimes I even unlock my phone in my pocket to sneak a look. How do you do that with FaceID when the sensor's been removed?

What do you sneak a look at?

It's usually notifications for me and that's what I've been using my Apple Watch for a bit over a year now.

If it's not notifications, then it gets more complicated though looking at anything but notifications is pretty hard to sneak.

Re: FaceID Security [pdf]

#134
post #29

Biometrics are UID's - not passcodes.

I agree with you, but features like this are often the difference have some (decent) security and none at all. Consider the iPhone prior to TouchID. A lot of people used trivial passcodes, or no passcodes at all.

Apple had numbers a few years ago (2015?). It was something like 95% without passwords before TouchID and only 50% after TouchID.

I know people who consider TouchID too much of a hassle.

This doesn’t need to be a perfect solution, it just needs to be more secure than TouchID (claimed) and more secure than nothing (obviously) while being easy enough people won’t turn it off (we’ll see).

Re: FaceID Security [pdf]

#135
post #25

I still wish it had an "unlock under duress" mode, where you could authenticate with a subtle difference (different gaze, alternate passcode, etc). The phone would unlock itself but then signal back to the mothership, cloud services and even apps that it's in "duress mode". Display in that mode should look totally normal, just some of the information missing (e.g. emails/messages/contacts from certain groups of conta…

> I still wish it had an "unlock under duress" mode The practical applications of this are close to nil. The government will not be fooled for one second because they can cross reference enough sources to know if you are lying. All this will do is get you slapped with a felony: https://www.popehat.com/2011/03/18/just-a-friendly-reminder-... If it is a criminal instead, well, they don't have to tiptoe around moral, et…

In addition to this, don't keep private (and certainly not illegal) data on a compute device that you walk around with. Maybe, just maybe, treat that device as compromised from the start and treat it accordingly.

The idea of using them as secure devices should probably stop, at least until they are actually secure. Moreover, if you're committing crimes, maybe don't record them in a way that is recoverable. Not that you should necessarily be a criminal but, if you're going to be a criminal, you should probably be a safe criminal.

Don't text me saying you need a G for the yayo. The cops know what that means.

Re: FaceID Security [pdf]

#136
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like fpgaminer's argument is that biometric keys can't be compromised because of "liveness tests". An argument against would have to rebut this assumption. My gut instinct tells me that this assumption is absurd, but I lack the specific knowledge of these systems to prove it.

> It sounds like fpgaminer's argument is that biometric keys can't be compromised because of "liveness tests". You're arrested, and the cops hold the phone up to your face to unlock it. That's a pretty big compromise, and there's literally nothing you can do to prevent it.

The same holds true for physical keys.

If you're arrested then the cops can tie you, grab the keys and unlock your door "and there's literally nothing you can do to prevent it.".

Also some guy can just make a copy your key (pretty trivial) -- heck people can even break your door bypassing the key altogether.

Re: FaceID Security [pdf]

#137
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like fpgaminer's argument is that biometric keys can't be compromised because of "liveness tests". An argument against would have to rebut this assumption. My gut instinct tells me that this assumption is absurd, but I lack the specific knowledge of these systems to prove it.

> It sounds like fpgaminer's argument is that biometric keys can't be compromised because of "liveness tests". You're arrested, and the cops hold the phone up to your face to unlock it. That's a pretty big compromise, and there's literally nothing you can do to prevent it.

It requires you to look at the phone to unlock. Close your eyes or look away and it won't unlock.

Re: FaceID Security [pdf]

#138
post #42

I was really unhappy about FaceID last week, but if the attention sensing tech works reliably, I think it's probably better --- including under duress --- than TouchID.

i wonder if the feds can compel you to open your eyes

Re: FaceID Security [pdf]

#139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It sounds like fpgaminer's argument is that biometric keys can't be compromised because of "liveness tests". You're arrested, and the cops hold the phone up to your face to unlock it. That's a pretty big compromise, and there's literally nothing you can do to prevent it.

The same holds true for physical keys. If you're arrested then the cops can tie you, grab the keys and unlock your door "and there's literally nothing you can do to prevent it.". Also some guy can just make a copy your key (pretty trivial) -- heck people can even break your door bypassing the key altogether.

> The same holds true for physical keys.

Nobody's saying that home security is good. The point the parent was making is that, even with a "liveness test", compared to other biometric identification, this is a regression from fingerprint-based authentication for the iPhone.

Re: FaceID Security [pdf]

#140

I'll bet most people who dismiss TouchID and FaceID as useless because they're "usernames" and not "passwords", have a bog standard lock and key on their house. Funny thing about those house keys. They can be stolen, lost, or duplicated from pictures. But TouchID and FaceID have liveness tests to prevent forgeries, your biometrics can't be easily stolen, and you can't lose them. A house key is called a "key" though,…

So basically you are saying that a bad biometric that would allow someone to use a face mask and walk into your home easily would still be better than 99% of house keys?
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