Galaxy Note 7 Iris Scanner Explained (androidauthority.com)

An anonymous reader writes from a report via Android Authority: The Galaxy Note 7 was just announced and one of the most intriguing features is its iris scanner. Android Authority has a report explaining how it works: "According to the company, the device stores your registered iris information as an encrypted code safely in its hardware using its KNOX security platform. Whenever you want to access content, such as a protected app, the device first captures your iris pattern for recognition, extracts and digitizes it, and then proceeds to match it with the encrypted code to provide access. You can be sure that no one else apart from you can access your device in case it is stolen or lost because the Note 7 registers the iris information of only one person. Samsung has made all this possible by including a dedicated iris camera for recognizing the composition of the user's eyeballs. The dedicated iris camera uses a special image filter to receive and recognize the reflected images of the irises through an infrared light on the other end of that panel. The light emitted from the Galaxy Note 7's display allows the scanner to receive data even in low light environments." The iris scanner can be used to access private information via Samsung's Secure Folder feature. Samsung also plans to partner with major financial institutions to incorporate its iris scanner into mobile banking applications.

Comments

Re:I think I saw that movie

[Anonymous Coward]

I know you're joking, but iris scanners don't work with dead eyes, since the pupil dilates and the iris gets much smaller. Retina scanners still work with eyeballs on barbecue forks, not iris scanners.

I learned this from a friend who worked at an iris scanning company, so take it for what it's worth.

Re:Does it pass the Simon Phoenix test?

[Dorianny]

That is, does it require a live eyeball that has not been forcibly removed from its socket?

"Research has shown that post-mortem eyes can be used for biometric identification for hours or days after death, despite the decay that occurs"

Although I suspect that if you are missing an eye or just plain dead, your phones security is probably the last of your worries

Re:password fallback?

[AmiMoJo]

Just write your password down and keep it at home somewhere. If someone steals your phone, even the cops, they won't have that password. If you are really paranoid you can destroy it later.

Or keep it in your password manager.