The iPhone 5S TouchID or fingerprint sensor technology of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) was reportedly cracked by a group of German hackers two days after the device became available in the United States market.
Hackers all over the world were excited to get the new iPhone 5s, but most importantly to be the first one to hack the device. I/O Capital Partners, a venture capital firm pledged 10,000 and a group of security researchers offered various amounts, bitcoins, and booze as prize to the iPhone 5S Touch ID hacking contest. The first person or group to hack the Touch ID with proofs would receive over $13,000 in cash and other prizes based on the pledges published on the site istouchidhackedyet.
Reuters reported that the German hackers who claimed that they’ve already hacked the iPhone 5S TouchID were known as Chaos Computing Club (CCC). Charlie Miller, one of the hackers who belong to the CCC and co-author of the iOS Hacker’s Handbook described their effort in hacking the technology was “complete break.” He said Apple’s new fingerprint sensor technology “certainly opens us a new possibility for attackers.
The report indicated that CCC posted a video on its website showing the process used by its biometrics team in accessing the new Touch ID. The video demonstrated that the hackers used a fabricated fingerprint to access the iPhone 5S.
One of CCC’s hackers named Starbug commented, “Fingerprints should not be used to secure anything. You leave them everywhere, and it is far too easy to make fake fingers out of lifted prints.”
The German hackers claimed that they were able to circumvent Apple’s security measures in the iPhone 5S touch ID by taking a picture of the fingerprint of an iPhone user. After that the printed the fingerprint image on a transparent sheet, and created a mold for a fake finger.
Dino Dai Zovi,” another co-author of the iOS Hacker’s Handbook said, “I think it’s legit. The CCC doesn’t fool around or over-hype, especially when they are trying to make a political point.”
According to CCC, they hacked the iPhone 5S Touch ID to put an end to reports that the technology is difficult to attack.
According to Nick Petrillo and Robert Graham, mobile security experts who supported the iPhone 5S Touch ID hacking contest said they already evaluated the information posted by the Germans hackers on their website, but they are still for documentation.
“We are simply awaiting a full video documentation and walk through of the process that they have claimed When they deliver that video we will review it,” Petrillo.
