Next iPhone to have fingerprint scanner beta code suggests
A "biometrics kit" folder has been discovered in the latest beta version of iOS7 (Apple's iPhone and iPad operating system) which was pushed out to developers on Monday and its presence all but confirms the ongoing reports that the iPhone 5S will have a fingerprint scanner embedded in its homekey.
The folder and its supporting text string, which even describes a person holding the device while applying their thumb to the button, was first discovered by developer Hamza Sood.
Rumors that Apple intended to add a new layer of security to its devices started back in 2012 when the company acquired AuthenTec, which builds one of world's smallest banking standard biometric scanners. Since then, further reports have emerged from Apple's supply chain partners concerning issues with integrating the technology into the phone's chassis and finding a protective coating that doesn't adversely affect its ability to correctly identify fingerprints.
So, should we be getting excited? The simple answer is yes. Without the owner's fingerprint to unlock a device, it becomes worthless to phone thieves and, more importantly, biometrics are truly unique and therefore a much better alternative to current text-based passwords when it comes to securely setting up and accessing everything from social media to web mail and cloud storage.
Going beyond traditional passwords for better protection
Truth be told, the faster that a company or an individual can put the traditional password out to pasture, the better. According to the latest research from Nuance Communications, the voice and language technology company, 85 percent of US consumers have already lost faith with current online authentication methods -- i.e., user IDs and passwords -- and two thirds of consumers already have 11 different usernames and passwords that they need to constantly remember in order to use online services.
And with so many different logins to keep track of, it's little surprise to learn that the same survey discovered that 80 percent of respondents admitted recycling their login details across multiple sites -- despite the security risks that entails.
And unless something like Apple's fingerprint sensor can replace passwords, the problem is going to get worse and the likelihood that consumers will leave themselves exposed to cyber attacks will increase.
Apple has a habit of including a feature in a beta version of its software only to pull it from the finished version but the fact that the company has waited until the fourth iteration of the operating system to introduce this feature -- the company traditionally cedes six betas to developers before the final product -- suggests that biometrics will be on the final product when it launches and Apple was simply trying to keep the function a secret for as long as possible.
The next iPhone is expected to be officially unveiled in September.
ch/cm
