3-D Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanning Could Strengthen Smartphone Security

Zothecula sends news that researchers from the University of California are developing new fingerprint scanning technology that could one day enhance the security of mobile devices. The new technique scans a fingertip in 3D, capturing the tiny ridges and valleys that make up a fingerprint, as well as the tissue beneath the surface. This guards against attackers unlocking a device with an image of the fingerprint, or by attempting to dust the scanner. The basic concepts behind the researchers’ technology are akin to those of medical ultrasound imaging. They created a tiny ultrasound imager, designed to observe only a shallow layer of tissue near the finger’s surface. "Ultrasound images are collected in the same way that medical ultrasound is conducted," said [Professor David] Horsley. "Transducers on the chip’s surface emit a pulse of ultrasound, and these same transducers receive echoes returning from the ridges and valleys of your fingerprint’s surface." The basis for the ultrasound sensor is an array of MEMS ultrasound devices with highly uniform characteristics, and therefore very similar frequency response characteristics. ... To fabricate their imager, the group employed existing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, which smartphones rely on for such functions as microphones and directional orientation. They used a modified version of the manufacturing process used to make the MEMS accelerometer and gyroscope found in the iPhone and many other consumer electronics devices.

Secure from who?

[Nikkos]

In Virginia your fingerprint isn't protected by the 5th amendment.

http://mashable.com/2014/10/30... [mashable.com]

While greater security is a benefit for some...

[SacredNaCl]

This is mostly going to be a benefit to cheating spouses who lock their phones constantly. The tech is mildly interesting, but it would suck to get locked out your phone because of a minor burn or a cut while making a hoagie. I can guarantee that this stuff can happen even with that technology. Facial and fingerprint scanners have been notoriously bad, even when they spend the money trying to make a better one.

Now as to beating it -- I'm willing to bet a piece of paper with the print with some clay attached and pressed into the shape (roughly) of a finger) could fool it. They aren't as clever as they think they are.

Re:

[Bengie]

A quick google shows a cancer drug can do that.

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[GuB-42]

The tech is mildly interesting, but it would suck to get locked out your phone because of a minor burn or a cut while making a hoagie.

Phone with fingerprint scanners usually have a backup password.
Additionally, their tech seems to scan the underlayers of the skin and fingerprints start relatively deep, this is why they regrow the same way after being damaged. Maybe this can be used to detect the fingerprint even behind small scratches and burns.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Or just take person finger and stick the phone to it.
Like this kid... http://www.business2community.com/tech-gadgets/7-year-old-boy-uses-sleeping-dads-finger-unlock-iphone-01084983
Or this judge... http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/10/31/judge-rules-suspect-can-be-required-to-unlock-phone-with-fingerprint/

Great security. Then again my bio-reader in the office hates me. My moisture and sugar content is ways in flux, to the point a bio-reader cannot read my finger print. Saves me from having to go into the

3D Printing Isn't Magic

[westlake]

So I just use a 3d printer and "print" a finger after capturing an image and guessing at the depth of the ridges

But will your makerbot plastic finger reflect sound in the same way as the real thing?

Re:

[Bengie]

It not only uses the print itself, but sub-dermal unique constructs.

Nope

[Anonymous Coward]

I like my passwords replaceable and secret, thank you very much.

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[chihowa]

You're already touching the microwave-emitting phone. How much more radiation are you going to get from sound waves?

Looks pretty useful

[cold fjord]

It seems like something that would make it much more difficult for ordinary thieves to exploit cell phones. That would seem to be pretty useful.

Re:

[fahrbot-bot]

It seems like something that would make it much more difficult for ordinary thieves to exploit cell phones. That would seem to be pretty useful.

And much easier for the Police / FBI / etc... to exploit to unlock your phone. That would seem to be pretty useful - for them.

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[cold fjord]

Not if it is used in conjunction with a password / passphrase.

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[koan]

Convenience is the death of liberty.

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[cold fjord]

You mean like the current policy to register as a voter any nearby animate and inanimate object, citizen or not?

Gummy bears

[Iamthecheese]

If they're using a print, it's not much harder to make a gummy bear. [theregister.co.uk] This is like adding a reinforced door lock and ignoring your $2 hinges.

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[Anomalyst]

It might be more useful if it was sub-derpal.

Piffle

[koan]

Another in a long line of techniques to gather you biometric information.

Making it easier for law enforcement...

[demigh0d]

to access your data. While you may have a constitutional right to withhold your password, the Supreme Court has already said the police don't need a warrant to get access to your finger.

With texture

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

> This guards against attackers unlocking a device with an image of the fingerprint

Now we will need a 3D rubberized printout of a finger body part with fingerprint.

I can't imagine any other industry that could drive this technological development to maturity.

Fingerprints should not be used

[markdavis]

Fingerprints should not be used for biometrics. Period.

Using fingerprints and allowing a third-party to have access to that registration data and tracking information is unacceptable. Once you give this data to the government or big business, it will NEVER be erased or restricted, regardless of claims or laws- it will go into huge databases and shared between entities and agencies and used however they want for as long as they want.

There is only one safer and practical biometric I know of- that is deep ve

You mean like the one Qualcomm has now?

[Groo Wanderer]

Wow, a research project that uses Ultrasound to scan fingerprints in 3D? This would be amazing if Qualcomm didn't have a near production version (Likely showing up in phones early next year around CES) that they were showing off at MWC months ago. I played with it here, it works, it does '3D', it scans beneath the surface, it is ultrasound based, etc etc. It also does other neat tricks that they aren't making public.

http://semiaccurate.com/2015/0... [semiaccurate.com]

So why is this 'new' one all the rage again?