Today in TechAndroid Jelly Bean’s Face Unlock checks to make sure you’re alive
Android 4.0's "Face Unlock" feature — which utilizes a front-facing shot of the user to verify identity — is certainly neat, but it's also very easy to fool with something as simple as a printed photo of the phone's true owner. Now, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean takes this tech to the next level by verifying that the face used to unlock the phone is actually that of a living, breathing human.
According to a user on a popular Android developer forum (who allegedly has access to a leaked version of Jelly Bean), the new version of Face Unlock first verifies the user's identity, and then requires them to blink before the phone unlocks itself. The feature — called "Liveness Check" — means that no more static pictures can be used to peep an owner's phone without their knowledge.
But despite this new layer of security, we'd still advise you to use something a bit more secure — such as a lengthy, complex password — in order to lock up your sensitive information. Until Android introduces a DNA unlocking feature, there's really no substitute for a good, old-fashioned, unguessable password.
[via TechCrunch]
This article was written by Mike Wehner and originally appeared on Tecca
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