Gaming the Apple FaceID — Approach to Surface Skin Heat and IR Pattern
What’s happening in the deep security layers of Face recognition technology? Definitely, it’s over than just pattern recognition, Iris scanning, and skin texture processing!
As you know, there is no magical algorithm that is entirely penetration-free. Also, this article is not about hacking and some other blah-blah stuff, as you know. So, this is a fictional review over Apple; I love them, so consider disclaimer and other things in the row.
History of 120 sec
May you know about some article about hacking Apple FaceID under 120 seconds by wearing glasses on the victim to Apple FaceID ignore the scanning of the iris of the eye and so on (Apple’s iPhone FaceID Hacked In Less Than 120 Seconds Forbs 2019). I do not intend to ask why it takes 120 seconds to put glasses on the face in that article! Really, do you hire some Koalas and Sloths to put glasses on the victim’s eyes! ;)
3D meshing and Iris scanning
Something obviously happens in the Face ID algorithm like 3D meshing with dots projection, Iris scanning, and skin texture heatmap (in a public patent). Still, if these things are the only factors, you would be able to 3d-print a face, then make a latex mask, paint, texturing, and put a high-resolution screen behind the facemask to show iris and all things done. So, keep continuing my fictional story(!) about Apple ID hacking.
Surface skin heat and Infrared-emission pattern
Officials claim that when an iPhone detects a face, the latter emits 30,000 infrared dots in a known pattern, allowing the iPhone X to generate a 3D map of the user’s face. May it just be an IR camera for 3D scanning and deep estimation purpose. But it can be used as a Thermal camera to filter a narrow band of IR radiation in its hardware layer. (Sensitive to wavelengths from about 1 μm to about 14 μm, just because emission intensity has a predictable curve with temperature for a wide range of materials)
Analysis of small subcutaneous movements
According to the Apple revealed information, the TrueDepth IR camera can also do scanning fast enough to support the creation of 3D motion data. So, I can add as well as micromotion on the skin surface by mussels, blood flow, and blood pressure. This is just a public presented feature, while the inside of the future can be something beyond! Yes, this feature is used as a deep security layer in Apple Face ID. Like a wizard’s assistant who catches your attention so that the witch’s trick is hidden from view.
Blood movement in the facial veins
Humans have a unique veins pattern, so why not use this pattern as a deep security layer in FaceID.
Some interesting resources:
