The iPhone X is just around the corner and one of the novelties that it brings with it is the elimination of the Touch ID unlocking system to incorporate the facial unlocking that it has as its name Face ID. The controversy was formed hours after the official presentation where it was intuited that the test iPhone X failed to unlock the face.
This controversy triggered a series of interventions by Apple to rule out any type of failure in the keynote of last September. In addition, a 6-page document called Face ID security where it is explained in detail what is the operation of Face ID.
Security above all, Apple strongly bets on Face ID
The document explains which are the situations in which the iPhone X you can request the unlocking of the terminal using the unlock code (because Face ID is locked):
- The iPhone X just turned on or restarted.
- IPhone X hasn't been unlocked for more than 48 hours.
- The passcode has not been used to unlock the iPhone X in the last 156 hours (six and a half hours) and Face ID has not been used in the last 4 hours.
- IPhone X has been remotely locked
- After 5 unsuccessful face unlock attempts
- After starting shutdown or Emergency SOS
These situations would increase the security of the system to prevent malicious unlocking. Still, Apple confirms that Face ID focuses on the user's gaze direction to start unlocking. It then uses neural networks to unlock the device, in addition to adjusting to changes in the user's appearance.
On the other hand, Apple continues to claim that there is a 1 in 1.000.000 chance that someone else will unlock our iPhone X. Compared to Touch ID, the error rate was 1: 50.000. It is also noted that the twins and siblings who have a strong resemblance to the user, plus children under the age of 13, since its characteristic features have not been definitively developed.
Another issue that must be taken into account is the issue of payments with Face ID. In the document It can be read that the iPhone X will work in a similar way to the one that the Apple Watch does: confirming the payment physically on the iPhone.