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posted 9/27/2020 by Maxim Grin
Technology is constantly evolving; everyday technology becomes more and more advanced but also becomes increasingly available to people. And with people becoming very dependent on technology, security becomes exponentially important. From the big server rooms that run web browsers to a simple phone that can perform thousands upon thousands of different actions. But let’s talk a little bit about the phones.
People usually take their phones for granted and don’t nitpick on the fine details that make up their portable internet. But the security of phones is still very important, which is why Apple's face ID is possibly one of the most important security developments in today’s world.
What is Face ID?
Face ID, also known as face identification/recognition, is Apple’s new form of unlocking their phones alongside using a password or a fingerprint. Face ID is a full replacement for touch ID (where the user uses their fingerprint to unlock the phone), but still coexists with the original password. It works by having the user scan their face to unlock their recent iPhones. Ever since the iPhone X came out, Apple has switched to face ID causing the security of their phones and the recent iPad Pro to increase exponentially.
How Does Face ID Work and How do I use it?
In order for face ID to scan and recognize the face of the user, there are many things going on at the same time that allows the phone to create a scan of the user’s face and convert it into a mathematical representation. During the scan, there’s a dots projector and infrared camera around the same area as where the front-facing camera and top speaker are (creating that iconic notch at the top of the phone). The dots projector casts thousands of invisible dots that create a 3D image of your face, whilst the infrared camera creates an infrared image. The phone then uses that scan and changes it into a mathematical representation that is used as the “master key” for whenever the user has to open their phone or access some valuable information.
To use face ID, the user can go into their phone’s security settings where they can manage their password and face ID, or they can set it up during the initial setup phase upon the initial opening of a newer model.
Is Face ID worth it? Does it really provide higher security than other methods?
Face ID comes with its own challenges. Despite Apple’s claims, there have been tests of identical twins being able to unlock the same phone with only one of their faces registered on the iPhone X. So if your twin loves scrolling through your phone, maybe use a password to unlock the phone instead.
There are also other ways to bypass face ID, but Apple is constantly working on making direct attacks harder and harder.
Even though it has flaws, face ID is definitely a viable option for security. According to Apple, Face ID has a false acceptance rate of 1 in 1 million, meaning that out of 1 million people, there’s only one person that’s likely to be able to unlock your phone with their face within a few tries. In comparison to the touch ID’s (Apple’s fingerprint scanner) false acceptance rate of 1 in 50,000, it’s safe to say that face ID is a much better form of authentication.
Face ID is possibly one of the handiest things that the iPhone has. Along with using it to unlock your phone, face ID can also be used for apple pay, to authorize purchases, and to sign into apps/autofill passwords.
Face ID is also able to adapt to changes. If you have a pair of sunglasses that you cannot take off when you’re outside, face ID has an option to not require your attention, meaning you can unlock your phone while wearing your sunglasses. Also, if you got a new stylish haircut that’s different from your previous cuts or you shaved your beard, face ID can adapt. It may not recognize you on the first scan or two, but it will make the “master key” adapt to you. And recently in response to the Covid pandemic, Apple released a feature allowing people to unlock their phones while wearing a mask. However, this does require you to be wearing your Apple Watch (refer to the image below).
As someone who uses face ID myself, I can’t deny that it’s a very useful and secure way of keeping information safe. Paired alongside a two-factor authentication app, many of my most used applications are protected behind three different layers of security. I do miss the home button a little, but the newer designs, extra screen space, and higher security is always welcome!
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