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Researchers Claim They Can Dupe iPhone X Face ID With a Mask

For about $150, researchers at Bkav Corporation designed a mask they said is able to unlock an iPhone X using Face ID, something Apple has said would not be possible.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Researchers at a Vietnamese security firm claim to have discovered a way to beat the iPhone X's Face ID feature using a mask.

For about $150, researchers at Bkav Corporation designed a mask they said is able to unlock an iPhone X using Face ID. Technical details of this "hack" are scant, but the researchers said they used a 3D printer to create the majority of the mask and enlisted an artist to make the nose out of silicone by hand. Other parts were 2D printed.

In a blog post, the researchers acknowledged that "it is quite hard to make the 'correct' mask without certain knowledge of security." Still, they say their experiment proves that it's possible to use a mask of someone's face to unlock their iPhone X. Consequently, the researchers are now warning users that Face ID "is not an effective security measure."

Still, everyday users don't have to be too concerned about someone getting into their iPhone X using a mask, the researchers wrote. More likely targets would include "billionaires, leaders of major corporations, [and] nation leaders."

Apple did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.

Apple, for the record, has said this would not be possible. The company said its facial matching neural network is "trained to spot and resist spoofing" and "defends against attempts to unlock your phone with photos or masks."

The probability of a random person being able to unlock your iPhone X using Face ID is approximately one in a million, versus 1 in 50,000 for Touch ID, according to Apple. However, the company has warned that "probability of a false match is different for twins and siblings that look like you as well as among children under the age of 13, because their distinct facial features may not have fully developed."

This is not the first time researchers have attempted to defeat Apple's biometric security features. Following the addition of Touch ID, researchers demonstrated that it was possible to reproduce someone's fingerprint to unlock their iPhone.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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