Key Takeaways
1. Zenni Optical has introduced ID Guard, a pink-tinted coating for eyeglass lenses that blocks near-infrared light to protect against unauthorized facial scans.
2. The ID Guard coating is currently available for basic 1.50 index lenses at a price of $14.95, with plans to expand to more lens varieties.
3. Facial recognition technology, like Apple’s Face ID, can be vulnerable to facial cloning, where criminals use 3D-printed masks to bypass security.
4. The ID Guard coating effectively blocks infrared light in the range of 700 nm to 1050 nm, providing an added layer of security against hackers attempting to replicate faces.
5. Users should remove their glasses when unlocking devices with facial recognition, as the coating may hinder the functionality of such technology.
Eyeglass maker Zenni Optical has rolled out a new feature called ID Guard, which is a pink-tinted coating for eyeglass lenses designed to stop unauthorized facial scans that could compromise personal safety by blocking near-infrared light. Customers can opt for this coating with their Clear, Blokz, and EyeQLenz lenses, with more lens varieties anticipated in the near future. The ID Guard coating is currently available for basic 1.50 index lenses at a price of $14.95.
Face ID Vulnerabilities
Some Apple iPhones allow users to unlock their devices using Face ID, which utilizes infrared light to project a pattern of dots onto the user’s face. A camera detects this pattern and unlocks the iPhone when it matches the previously saved data.
Risks of Facial Cloning
Criminals can take advantage of this technology by creating a fake version of someone’s face when that person unknowingly stares at a concealed infrared projector and camera. Bkav has shown that they can 3D print masks from scanned facial data that can bypass the Face ID security on certain iPhones. Despite Apple adding liveliness detection to ensure phones only unlock with natural movements, resourceful researchers have still managed to overcome this security measure.
Zenni Optical aims to combat the risk of facial cloning with the ID Guard coating, which prevents infrared light from reaching the area of the face behind the lenses. This coating effectively blocks infrared light in the range of 700 nm to 1050 nm, exceeding the 700 nm to 900 nm spectrum used by Apple Face ID. The company claims that this technology can hinder hackers from replicating target faces, but users must remember to take off their glasses when they wish to unlock their devices.
Additional Security Concerns
For those concerned about personal privacy, it’s important to understand that MEMS microphones in smartphones can emit radio frequency waves, which may enable hackers to remotely listen in on conversations. This can be prevented by using Faraday bags, such as one available on Amazon.
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