A photo of your hand can be used to recreate a fingerprint that could unlock your TouchID-locked iPhone 6. So says German hacker Jan Krissler, who used public photos of German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, taken at a press conference, to recreate the minister's fingerprints.
Krissler, who goes by the hacking pseudonym Starbug, previously showed that he could unlock a TouchID-locked iPhone 6 by forensically lifting a fingerprint from a surface such as a glass or the iPhone's own screen. But now Krissler has shown that he can thwart TouchID even without physical access to the iPhone owner's fingerprint.
Precisely what this proves is a mystery as the final iPhone 6 will be made from higher-grade materials, and could even sport a different design.
Two iPhone 6 models are believed to be in development, with a 5.5-inch size option accompanying the 4.7-inch flagship device.
Both versions of the phone have appeared in previous leaks, featuring a similar curved design to the handset in the Russian video.
Apple is expected to announce new iPhone hardware alongside its much-rumoured iWatch around September.
Rumors of an upcoming 4-inch Apple iPhone hitting the shelves next year are hardly new. A subset of the iPhone customer base simply prefers the smaller 4-inch form factor, which remains ideal for one-handed use.
Today that customer base is well served by the popular , and still quite powerful, iPhone 5s. But to keep those customers upgrading, many Apple followers -- including yours truly -- believe the company should refresh the smaller iPhone alongside the newer, larger devices. According to Cowen's Timothy Arcuri (via Apple Insider ), Apple plans to do just that. You may interested on: cheap ipad mini cases and cute iphone 5/5S cases.
Same phone, different shell?
According to Arcuri, the specifications of the new 4-inch iPhone could closely mirror those of the iPhone 5s. However, he also claimed the device might sport an industrial design very similar to that of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. If true, Apple would essentially be taking the iPhone 5s and putting it into a new, sleeker shell.
Krissler then pours glue or plaster over the print of the fingerprint. The ink print serves as a stamp, imprinting the fingerprint's whorls and ridges into the glue and creating a mold which can successfully unlock a TouchID-locked iPhone 6.
Krissler says that even mobile phone cameras, with the right lighting, could be used to capture the necessary photos. He's also working on using public photos of a person's face to image his or her iris.
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