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Vein ID? Creepy Apple patent indicates that new versions of Face ID might map iPhone and iPad users’ facial veins to fool masked hackers

With vein mapping ruling out masks, decapitation appears to be the only remaining option available to persistent Face ID hackers (Image source: Apple)
With vein mapping ruling out masks, decapitation appears to be the only remaining option available to persistent Face ID hackers (Image source: Apple)
A disturbing Apple patent indicates that upcoming versions of the Face ID biometric technology could generate a map of the veins in a user’s face. While Face ID already has a one in a million false-positive rate, vein mapping could dissuade hackers from attempting to use life-like masks to bypass Face ID.

A very creepy-looking patent filed by Apple indicates that Cupertino may be working to implement vein mapping in upcoming versions of its Face ID biometric authentication tech. Vein mapping will the patterns of iPhone users’ veins beneath their skin. Patterns of venation are unique to people, just like their fingerprints. However, because veins are beneath the skin, vein mapping will help plug one of the few loopholes affecting Face ID security: highly sophisticated masks. 

3D vein mapping will be made possible by sub-epidermal imagery thanks to Face ID’s integrated infrared sensors. However, rather than mapping a user’s face like Face ID currently does, the new tech will of course map their vein pattern.

While Face ID has a very low false positive rate of approximately one in a million, this will be a step towards alleviating user worries about its security. On the other hand, in an environment where tech companies’ security practices are under increased scrutiny, it raises questions about the amount of biometric information users are willing to give to corporations.

The patent illustration is very uncomfortable to look at (Image source: Gizmochina)
The patent illustration is very uncomfortable to look at (Image source: Gizmochina)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 07 > Vein ID? Creepy Apple patent indicates that new versions of Face ID might map iPhone and iPad users’ facial veins to fool masked hackers
Arjun Krishna Lal, 2020-07-23 (Update: 2020-07-23)