Smartphone sensors reveal security secrets!

[karl]

Data captured by smartphone sensors could help criminals guess codes used to lock the gadgets, say security researchers.

By analysing data gathered by accelerometers they were able to get a good idea of the Pin or pattern used to protect a phone.

The data was useable because sensors can gather information with more freedom than apps loaded on the device.

Researchers said several different smartphone sensors could be subverted.


Full story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21203035

[HunterSteele]

I believe I read an article once about it being possible to determine the pattern just by looking at the smudges on the screen. But if someone can load software onto your phone to record and transmit the data from the accelerometers, wouldn't they already have access to your phone's contents?

[CharlieHorse]

How do they beat face unlock with liveness check?

[HunterSteele]

How do they beat face unlock with liveness check?
By taking a photo of the phone's owner, Photoshopping his eyes to appear closed, pointing the phone at the monitor with the original image open and the Photoshopped one minimized, then switching to it briefly when prompted.

This would be more secure if it required you to adopt various facial expressions, but it would still be a bad way to unlock a phone. Why make funny faces at your phone when you can just type a code?