Apple’s Face ID ‘thwarted’ with mask by researchers

At September’s iPhone event, Apple went to great lengths to claim that its Face ID feature was a secure authentication method. In fact, the company said the facial recognition system could distinguish between human faces and masks.

Now, Vietnamese security firm BKav has apparently cracked the authentication system, using a mask to do so. The firm’s researchers created a 3D printed base then fleshed it out from here.

“We used a popular 3D printer. (The) Nose was made by a handmade artist (sic). We use 2D printing for other parts (similar to how we tricked face recognition nine years ago). The skin was also hand-made to trick Apple’s AI,” read an entry on the company website.

The mask costs roughly US$150 to make, with BKav saying the proliferation of 3D printers and capturing tools helps make the process easier than you think.

The security firm adds that it was the first to demonstrate flaws in facial recognition systems, showing an attack on laptops back in 2009.

Check out the video below, detailing the Face ID hack. But it’s worth noting that questions have been raised over the details of the hack.