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Privacy Risk Alert: Google Pixel 8's Face Unlock is Susceptible to Tricks

 


Taking advantage of the upgraded Face Unlock capabilities on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, Google made sure to make sure to mention those features when the Pixel line of phones was announced. However, it appears to be possible for a sibling who looks a bit similar to you to be able to fool the system. 

As reported by MotorTransportation8 (h/t Android Authority), a user who goes by the moniker MotorTransportation8 claimed to have been able to unlock their Pixel 8 Pro handset with a 100% success rate by using their face. 

In the post, the poster insists that both of them are "very different" and that it was not supposed to happen, but the poster does not include any photos or videos to provide context for his claim. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro were the first handsets in the Pixel series to feature Face Unlock, and with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the feature appears to be even better than ever. 

If users purchase a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro, they will have the option of using it for signing into apps, approving purchases, and unlocking their phone. In recent years, the use of biometrics has become increasingly important in our daily lives. 

As time has gone on, facial recognition technology has progressed significantly, and it started with fingerprint scanners. The popularity of facial recognition has been growing over the years because it provides an increase in security over biometrics, for which there is a strong argument. Consequently, Google's latest Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro also feature that technology. 

As reported by a Reddit user, a sibling was able to fool the Face Unlock on the Google Pixel 8 by claiming that the Face Unlock on the Pixel 8 didn't work. The company said the Pixel 8 series would now be able to utilize just the user's face for authentication, which was one of the many new features that were bundled with the two flagships.

The company said this was a great addition to the many new features bundled with these two flagships, one of which went under the radar was the Face Unlock feature for payments. It also indicates that the new phones meet "the highest Android biometric standard," namely Class 3.

In a recent report on Reddit, there has been a concern that this Face Unlock system is prone to misuse in some situations. Aside from the improved apertures in all three camera modules, the Pixel 8 Pro has a larger sensor with a higher resolution when compared to the Pixel 7 Pro of last year, and a larger sensor with a higher resolution in the ultra-wide camera. 

Compared to the Pixel 7 generation, the Pixel 8 has the same main camera as the Pro model but uses the same ultra-wide camera hardware, and it lacks a dedicated zoom module, so digital cropping and blending is what it relies on. 

The updates are a little less exciting when it comes to the Pixel 8 as it has the same ultra-wide camera. Google is claiming that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are both capable of identifying users via Face Unlock with Class 3, the toughest biometric standard for Android smartphones. In other words, there is a probability of less than 7% for a 3D copy of your face to unlock your phone, and less than 1 in 50,000 for someone else's face to unlock your phone. 

There are some advantages to it, but there are also some drawbacks: it's not infallible, and it's up to the users to decide whether they are satisfied with those odds. According to Redditor MotorTransportation8, the phone was unable to be unlocked when his father tried to do so – a man who seemed to resemble him a lot more than his father did.

In addition, users should be aware that the Face ID system on the Apple iPhone isn't entirely secure either, as well. The company says that a random person has a very low chance of being able to impersonate an Apple user, however, "there is a statistical probability that twins are more likely to be able to do it," though the company does not say how much more likely this is. 

The Pixel 8 now features a face unlock feature that meets the strong Android biometric standard. It can be used to sign in to banking apps, such as Google Wallet, and to pay for items using Google Pay. In addition to 'Best Take' and 'Group Shot', users can choose from more than 40 different facial expressions when it comes to changing facial expressions in portrait pictures and group shots. There is no doubt that Google's Pixel phones are fantastic options for smartphone users with a focus on photos or video. Read on to find out how well they performed in real life.