Samsung Is Warning Customers To Erase All Their Fingerprints On These 5 Models

In the era of new technologies and innovation, cell phone companies are trying to move forward with each new device they release. Just think about technologies like the countless voice assistants like Siri or even facial recognition. However, with every technology, there is a chance of failure. One of the latest big failures is the recognition of the fingerprint of some Samsung phones. That's right, a fault in the fingerprint recognition system means anyone can get into your phone. 

On Friday, South Korean tech giant Samsung urged users of several of its high-end smartphone models to erase all fingerprints they have stored on their device.

The problem? Samsung found that some silicone screen protectors disturb the fingerprint sensors. Users are advised to "avoid" using the fingerprint unlock function until they deploy a new software update, which will be done next week, the company said in a statement originally published by the Agence France-Presse.

Specifically, the Galaxy Note10, 10+ and Galaxy S10, S10 +, and S10 5G smartphones are affected by the security breach. The South Korean company insists that it's necessary to "erase all existing fingerprints", before registering them again.

When the fingerprint technology was first introduced, Samsung, who is described as a world leader in the smartphone market, said its new sensor was "revolutionary."  

However, it wasn't even the company that first found the flaw in their sensors. It was actually a woman from Britain who is behind this discovery. The resident of Castleford, in the north of England, realized the fault after buying a $5.00 silicone screen cover on eBay.

She saved only her right thumbprint into the phone but then realized that her left thumbprint, which was not saved, could also unlock the device. 

This is not the first technology issue that Samsung has faced, such as the global issue with its Galaxy Note 7. In 2016, many of the batteries in the phones were catching on fire or exploding spontaneously. 

More recently, the company was forced to postpone the launch of its Galaxy Fold, the very first device with a foldable screen because of the fragility of its screen. 

Narcity Quebec has contacted Samsung Canada for more details on this security issue. The article will be updated as soon as we have an answer.

Samsung isn't the only phone company facing some security issues with its biometric technology lately. On the new Google Pixel 4, some users discovered that the phone can be unlocked with your eyes closed, meaning it could be accessed if you were asleep, unconscious, or even dead. 

This article was originally published in French on Narcity Quebec.