Update: Samsung has released an official statement regarding ultrasonic fingerprint sensors unlocking devices after recognizing 3-dimensional patterns appearing on certain silicone screen protecting cases as users’ fingerprints.
This issue involved ultrasonic fingerprint sensors unlocking devices after recognizing 3-dimensional patterns appearing on certain silicone screen protecting cases as users’ fingerprints.
To prevent any further issues, we advise that Galaxy Note10/10+ and S10/S10+/S10 5G users who use such covers to remove the cover, delete all previous fingerprints and newly register their fingerprints.
If you currently use front screen protective covers, to ensure optimum fingerprint scanning, please refrain from using this cover until your device has been updated with a new software patch.
A software update is planned to be released as early as next week, and once updated, please be sure to scan your fingerprint in its entirety, so that all portions of your fingerprint, including the center and corners have been fully scanned.
Thank you for your patience, and we will strive to continuously improve product and service experiences for our users.
Earlier: Earlier this week, a woman in Britain discovered that her Samsung Galaxy S10’s ultrasonic fingerprint sensor had a security flaw and could basically be opened by anyone once she fit £2.70 (Approx Rs. 250) screen protector she got on eBay onto the phone. Samsung, on Thursday, acknowledged the security flaw and announced it will soon roll out a software patch to fix problems with fingerprint recognition.
The woman had purchased the phone cover on Ebay and found out she could use her left thumb to unlock her phone when only her right thumb was registered. Furthermore, even her husband could unlock the phone with his thumb and this flaw could be replicated on her sisters galaxy S10 too.
After contacting Samsung customer services, it was discovered that this was a security flaw in the phone and that if misused, anyone would be able to access users sensitive information like those stored on financial apps.
A Samsung spokeswoman said they are investigating internally and reiterated it is recommended that users only purchase and use Samsung authorized accessories, specifically designed for Samsung products.
On Thursday Sumsung said it will roll out a software patch to fix the security and that users, for the time, refrain from using the fingerprint sensor until the update rolls out.