"Cybersecurity researchers have issued an urgent warning against doing a 'peace' sign in photos, amid fears that criminals could steal your fingerprints. Using AI tools, criminals now have the ability to isolate your biometric data from a single photo and use it to access your accounts. As fingerprint logins become more common for our most secure accounts, experts say this trend could help hackers access everything from emails to banking apps."
"Ms Chang isolated biometric data from the celeb's 'peace' sign selfie, which clearly showed their index and middle fingers. Ms Chang warned that this data could potentially be extracted from photos taken from up to 1.5 metres away. However, up to half of the details could still be recovered by determined attackers using photos taken from a distance of three metres."
"During the show, which has caused a wave of concern among social media users, Ms Chang showed that the fine lines of a fingerprint could be made visible after the image was enhanced with photo-editing software and AI tools. This data could, in theory, be used to duplicate the celebrity's fingers and access their devices."
"Ms Chang explained that the risk was highest with clear, well-lit photos taken from the front, in which the subject clearly showed their hands. The dangers are even more pronounced if there are photos from multiple angles, which allow hackers to reconstruct a more complete image. In practice, poor lighting, motion, and less-than-ideal angles will all make it more difficult for criminals to harvest your data."
Cybersecurity researchers warn that certain selfie poses can expose biometric data that criminals can use to break into accounts. AI tools can isolate fingerprint information from a single photo and enable account access, especially as fingerprint logins become common for secure services. A Chinese security expert demonstrated fingerprint theft from a celebrity’s social media selfie showing a peace sign with clearly visible index and middle fingers. The demonstration showed that fine fingerprint lines could be enhanced using photo-editing software and AI, potentially allowing finger duplication and device access. Risk increases with front-facing, well-lit images and multiple angles, while poor lighting, motion, and awkward angles reduce recoverability. Users are advised to blur, pixelate, or smooth hands before posting.
Read at Mail Online
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