While facial recognition tech isn’t new, many are understandably curious about the iPhone X’s Face ID and the TrueDepth camera system. During the iPhone X’s unveiling, Apple claimed to have worked with mask makers to ensure that the system could not be tricked by a mask, although a video posted earlier this month seemed to dispel that claim.
There was a bit of debate going on with the video, as some claimed that the “Require Attention” feature was not enabled. In case you needed more proof, the company behind the first video, a Vietnamese security company called Bkav, has since uploaded a new video with a new mask made out of different material, 2D infrared images of eyes taped over the mask, and also with the “Require Attention” feature on.
For those unfamiliar, the Require Attention feature is an additional layer of security where it requires users to have their eyes pointed at the phone in order for it to unlock. This means that someone can’t hold it up to your face when you’re looking away to turn it on, or use it while you’re sleeping, and is also one of the features meant to protect the phone from masks.
Ultimately Bkav believes that Face ID is less secure compared to Touch ID, especially when you consider that the mask costs about $200 to make, although whether or not you’re worth the trouble to the thief is a different story. That being said, we’re sure that Apple does plan to improve on Face ID over time, like they did with Touch ID, so it is possible that Apple could find a way to address this.