A recent uploaded video has triggered so many reactions and it was showing how the new Samsung’s Galaxy s8 smartphone eye-scanning security technology got manipulated with a photograph and a contact lens.

The Galaxy S8 Smartphone iris-scanner can be used to unlock the phone simply by looking at it, which Samsung says provides “airtight security”, but the recently uploaded video proves otherwise.

Samsung has said that they are aware of the issue and it’s website quote that irises are “virtually impossible to replicate”.
You may be wondering how the tight security system was bypassed, the researchers first set up the phone’s security by registering a volunteer’s eyes using the S8 iris scanner.
They then took a photograph of one of the volunteer’s eyes, using a digital camera with an infra-red night vision setting.

After printing the image, the researchers placed a contact lens over the photograph and the phone unlocked when it saw the fake eye.
Although, Samsung said its iris-scanning technology had been through “rigorous testing” to “prevent attempts to compromise its security”.
“If there is a potential vulnerability or the advent of a new method that challenges our efforts to ensure security at any time, we will respond as quickly as possible to resolve the issue.”

According to Security expert, Ken Munro, the discovery was “another reminder that biometrics is not a silver bullet”.
“Personally, I prefer fingerprints to iris unlock. Your fingers are already holding your phone, so why not use prints rather than wave your phone in front of your face?
“If you want to be really secure, choose fingerprints and a secret number. If you must have iris unlock, please walk everywhere with your eyes closed, so your iris can’t be photographed.”
Galaxy S8 owners have the option of using a password or secret number to unlock their phone, instead of using the iris scanner.

Info source: http://www.premiumstech.com/2017/05/New-Samsungs-Galaxy-S8-Smartphone-Iris-Scanner-tricked-with-a-photograph-and-a-contact-lens.html?m=1