The security of smartphones has always been a subject of questioning. Some manufacturers claimed that their phones were secure due to their own software integrated into the Android operating system. Others, like Apple, claimed that they produced secure phones by using their own operating system entirely. However, recent news raises concerns about the security of Android devices. According to a research report, it only takes a payment of $15 to take control of your Android device. Here are the details on this matter…
A $15 circuit board can take over your Android device!
According to a research conducted by a university in China, it is possible to unlock certain Android devices with fake fingerprints. This is due to two security vulnerabilities present in almost all devices with fingerprint locks. Since there are numerous brands and models of Android devices on the market, it is not possible to provide an exhaustive list. However, it is important to note that many models are vulnerable to this threat.
According to the published report, this attack is called BrutePrint. To carry out the attack, you need a key. This key can be a microcontroller, an SD card, or a circuit board capable of copying from panel to panel. If you have the necessary technical knowledge, you can make these mentioned products yourself. If you lack technical knowledge, you can purchase them for $15.
If we list everything needed, there are actually only two things you need. The first is the key mentioned above, and the second is a 45-minute period during which you can easily access the victim’s phone. The attack called BrutePrint actually utilizes the fingerprint database. With the mentioned circuit boards, a simple database search is performed on the victim’s phone, and the phone’s lock is unlocked.
So, which Android devices are at risk?
The research was actually conducted in the form of an experiment, and the university researchers performed tests on several different devices. In the experiments, 8 different Android devices were tested. These are as follows:
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
- Vivo X60 Pro
- OnePlus 7 Pro
- OPPO Reno Ace
- Samsung Galaxy S10+
- OnePlus 5T
- Huawei Mate30 Pro 5G
- Huawei P40
However, due to security measures, the university did not disclose which devices’ passwords were cracked.
Researchers: iPhones are secure!
The tests were conducted on devices running the iOS operating system. These were iPhone models with Touch ID feature. The research team tested iPhone SE and iPhone 7 models. The disclosed report stated that both phones were not vulnerable to this method and that iPhone models are secure.
What are your thoughts on smartphone security? Don’t forget to share your opinions in the comments section…
