What you should know
– The brother of MotorTransportation8 was able to unlock their Pixel 8 Pro using face unlock, despite not being an identical twin or looking similar.
– It is unclear how Google determines a match for face models stored on the phone, as their father, who resembles MotorTransportation8 more, was unable to unlock the phone.
– The Pixel 8 Pro’s face unlock system, certified by Google as meeting the highest Android biometric class, can be used for banking and payment apps.
– MotorTransportation8’s brother can access their phone for payments and password managers, but the Pixel 7 Pro (owned by the brother) has a better face unlock system and requires the fingerprint scanner for payments.
Full Story
Recently, a Reddit user named MotorTransportation8 shared their experience with the face unlock feature on their new Pixel 8 Pro. Surprisingly, their brother, who looks very different from them, was able to unlock the phone using his face. Even their father, who they believe shares a stronger resemblance, was unable to unlock it. This raises questions about how Google determines a match for face models stored on the phone.
It is worth mentioning that the Pixel 8 Pro’s face unlock system is certified by Google as meeting the highest Android biometric class. This means that it is considered reliable enough for banking and payment apps, despite lacking the depth-mapping hardware found in the iPhone’s Face ID and Pixel 4’s Face Unlock system.
MotorTransportation8’s brother can not only unlock the phone but also access payment apps and password managers. However, MotorTransportation8 cannot do the same to their brother since the Pixel 7 Pro, which their brother owns, requires the use of the fingerprint scanner for payments. Interestingly, MotorTransportation8 discovered that the Pixel 7 Pro has a better face unlock system than the Pixel 8 Pro.
While this incident may be concerning, we have yet to hear about other similar occurrences with the Pixel 8’s face unlock system. It is important to note that no face unlock system is foolproof, including Apple‘s Face ID, which claims a one-in-a-million chance of being fooled by an unauthorized person. Similarly, it is unknown whether the Pixel 8’s face unlock system has equally low chances of being tricked.
The Pixel 8’s face unlock system solely relies on the front-facing camera and machine learning to verify the user’s face. However, the way Google determines what constitutes a match for the stored face models remains unclear. It seems that factors beyond physical resemblance come into play, making it possible for someone who doesn’t even closely resemble the user to unlock the phone.
Overall, while the incident shared by MotorTransportation8 may be seen as a flaw in the Pixel 8 Pro’s face unlock system, it is crucial to remember that no biometric security measure is perfect. There are always limitations and potential vulnerabilities, and it is up to the user to consider their individual security needs and preferences when choosing and utilizing such features.
