Almost every modern Android device today sports a fingerprint lock feature, but is it really secure? Here’s everything you need to know about it, and some special ways to get the so-called real fingerprint lock feature on phones that don’t have a fingerprint scanner.
Most millennials remember movies and TV shows that glorified biometric fingerprint lock technology, with tech secured by a simple scan. Who could forget the strife of the olden days when keeping your phone secure needed more than just a tap? From setting up super-long password and pin combinations to using Android’s pattern security, fingerprint lock is a futuristic leap.
Apple did popularize the trend of using biometric security on iDevices with Touch ID, but it certainly wasn’t the first. Android brought fingerprint lock to the mainstream consumers all the way back in 2012 with the Motorola Atrix 4G. While the technology was much slower and less accurate than the lightning-fast fingerprint scanners on Android today, it was a step in the right direction.Fingerprint lock has changed mobile security
Until the advent of real fingerprint lock security on Android, the security system followed only the “what you know” method. “What you know” security system essentially means that your mobile security depends on the information you have knowledge of (password or PIN that you have created and saved). However, the fingerprint lock on your Android device brings in the “who you are” security system, which is a game-changer.This means that your mobile security is directly linked to your personal identity, just as it would be when you would set a face lock or an iris scanner lock. While the knowledge of your phone’s password, pattern or pin can easily become public, physical attributes are harder to fake. For all the forgetful ones out there, losing your password or security pin is not entirely new.Fingerprint lock has its downsides too
In a world where billion-dollar firms aren’t safe from cyber attacks, you can’t expect the teensy fingerprint to lock everything down. Not all fingerprint sensors are built equally and the technology behind them is what determines how foolproof they are. For instance, optical sensors are useless when it comes to distinguishing the fingerprint from a picture of the finger itself.Capacitive fingerprint sensors do use 3D mapping technology and pressure sensitivity to offer precise results most of the time. However, they can easily be tricked by using a mold of somebody’s finger (and it's easier than you would imagine). While improvements over the current fingerprint lock technology are undergoing, there’s no denying the fact it does have its limitations.Most Android device manufacturers ensure that your fingerprint information is stored in an encrypted form and never shared. However, third-party apps may not extend the similar courtesy and could either directly or mistakenly store your fingerprint on the local system or an unsafe server. Either way, while you can always hit reset on your password/pin security, there is no way to reset your fingerprint.“When your password leaks, you can change it in a few minutes, but you have to live with your fingerprints for the rest of your life. What if they are stolen? This is why you should not fully believe marketing promises of popular vendors.” – Kaspersky Security
What if my phone doesn’t have a fingerprint lock?
We’ve probably got you all paranoid about using the real fingerprint lock on your phone by now. There’s no denying the fact that fingerprint security on mobiles is here to stay, thanks to its ease of use. The technology is only going the get better and there’s no stopping it, but do suggest implementing it wisely.While there’s no better way to deter prying eyes from your phone with a fingerprint lock, maybe setting it up for your banking apps like PayPal is not the best idea. In general, fingerprint security does more good than harm and deters unauthorized users from even attempting to unlock your device.Real fingerprint lock apps for scanner-less phones
Even without the latest and greatest in security, your Android device has tons of smart features. These features are magnified with some of the most innovative apps available on the Google Play Store, including real fingerprint lock. While the trend of fake fingerprint lock apps has been around for years, the latest batch has some science to it.We sifted through the Google Play Store to find a bunch of real fingerprint lock apps that use actual biometrics. From spoof apps to fake the working of a fingerprint scanner to ones that use your phone’s camera as a fingerprint scanner, here are the coolest fingerprint lock apps for phones that don’t have a fingerprint sensor.Remember: It should go without saying that without the actual hardware to support it, fingerprint scanner apps are entertaining at best. While some of the camera-based finger scanning apps are surprisingly accurate, they can easily be fooled and come nowhere close to the real deal. While you should definitely give them a try and even depend on them to keep your phone safe and secure, don’t expect the accuracy and safety as you would with a real fingerprint sensor.1. ICE Unlock Fingerprint Scanner
Designed with real science behind it, ICE Unlock brings you the power of fingerprint biometric scanning without the intended hardware. What this app actually does is substitute your camera for an optical fingerprint scanner by capturing the ridges with imaging.Step 1: Download and install ICE Unlock
Available free of cost on the Google Play Store, you can simply look up ICE Unlock Fingerprint Scanner. We’ve also included the link to the app down below, so go ahead and use it to get ICE Unlock for free.Download ICE Unlock Fingerprint Scanner
Step 2: Setting up the app
The first time you launch the app, the only permission it will ask you for is to be set as the default launcher. ICE Unlock needs this permission to launch itself every time you swipe the lockscreen to access the app. The app will make no changes to your current launcher settings and work in the background, so make sure to press “Always” when you see the pop-up.As an added security measure, ICE Unlock will ask you to set up a numeric PIN in case the optical fingerprint scanning fails. Set and confirm your PIN to move to set up your fingerprint using the phone’s camera.Step 3: Using ICE Unlock on the lockscreen
Now that you have the real fingerprint lock set up, all you need to do is exit the app and turn off your screen. The next time you go past the lockscreen, ICE Unlock will automatically launch, along with the camera and flash.2. Smart AppLock: Fingerprint Fake
This is yet another type of applock out of the thousands that are already crowding the Play Store. Smart AppLock offers a solution to phone security and privacy with a fingerprint scanner, that doesn’t offer real fingerprint lock.Step 1: Download and install Smart AppLock
Available free of cost on the Google Play Store, you can simply look up Smart AppLock using the search feature. You can use the official link given down below to download and install the app on your phone.Download Smart AppLock: Fingerprint Fake