Is Face ID Safe?
Face ID is one of the most convenient authentication methods used on Apple devices, but how secure is it? Let's find out
What is Face ID?
Face ID, or facial authentication, is a biometric technology that mobile devices use to protect against unauthorized use. Face ID operates by scanning the features of your face and comparing them with stored data to determine whether you are allowed to unlock the device. Apple popularized the technology, first introducing it on the iPhone X in 2017. Since then, many other devices have begun to use biometric methods of authentication. The name "Face ID" is reserved for Apple devices, but other companies such as Google and Samsung also use facial recognition in their products.
Is Face ID Secure?
Yes, Face ID is secure. The technology uses Secure Enclave, a special subsystem embedded in Apple's system on a chip (SoC) that is separated from the main processor. This system is designed to protect sensitive information, such as biometric data. The Secure Enclave works with Apple's TrueDepth camera system, which captures your unique facial features and projects thousands of invisible dots onto your face, creating a depth map and generating an infrared image. Machine learning technology then analyzes these images and creates a mathematical representation of your face. All this data is encrypted and protected by the Secure Enclave, which stores the decryption key. Face ID data never leaves the device. This information is critically important because users concerned about security might be uncomfortable with the privacy implications if a company had access to and stored their sensitive biometric data. You might worry that information about your facial features could be stored in iCloud or somewhere else, but the mathematical model of your face is not backed up anywhere outside your device.
Is Face ID Enough?
In rare cases, Face ID may not be sufficient for reliable protection of your iPhone. One such situation is related to siblings and close family members. If you have a twin, Face ID might struggle to differentiate between you, and they could unlock your device simply by looking at it. The same can apply to other relatives who closely resemble you, or children under 13 years old, because their facial features may not be fully developed yet. In some instances, Face ID can be used to unlock your device without your consent. Fraudsters or authorities might threaten or deceive you into looking at the phone to gain access. In theory, you don’t even need to be looking at the device to unlock it. Someone could point your phone at your face while you're asleep or unconscious. However, technology is continuously being improved. Therefore, in most cases, Face ID remains one of the most secure authentication methods used on Apple devices. Unless you're a politician, whistleblower, spy, or some kind of targeted activist and you don't have powerful enemies hunting you, it's unlikely that anyone would go through the trouble to bypass Face ID on your phone. For most users, Face ID is perfectly safe and effectively protects smartphones from unauthorized access. It also securely guards saved passwords you use to log into your other accounts.
