The iPhone X brings plenty of reasons to justify its staggering price, but one that stands above the rest is Face ID, the new security system based on facial recognition. Apple's representatives say Face ID can only fail once in a million attempts, yet the people at iFixit have decided to put it to the test while explaining exactly how it works.
Apple has stated that the information associated with facial recognition in the Face ID system is stored inside a special chip (the so-called Secure Enclave), and that it is never transmitted to the cloud. Face ID is one of the most significant examples of biometric security on the market, so it's logical that it gets a thorough analysis. Many privacy-concerned users see alarm signals in a solution like Face ID, but it's likely that other manufacturers will follow a similar route in the future, just as they are doing with the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack. The next step is to put Face ID to the test to observe its resistance, but before that, we need to understand how it works.
How Face ID Works
The folks at iFixit explain it in this video. Face ID relies on the TrueDepth platform, which combines a total of six elements: front camera, infrared camera, dot projector, infrared illuminator, ambient light sensor, and proximity sensor. Those last two sensors essentially set the pace for the rest. The illuminator detects the user's face and compensates for any lack of ambient light with infrared light. The IR camera captures an infrared image, and as its name indicates, the projector generates a total of 30,000 points on the face. This enables the creation of a mathematical model of the user that receives updates with advanced use and adapts to different characteristics, including glasses, hair, and beard.
Can Face ID Be Fooled?
Now, the big question is: Can it be fooled? In the video, they test a two-dimensional design placed on a real face, and the result was negative. It's evident that the mathematical model includes depth information, which led to the second attempt: a 3D model of the face. The size difference is notable, and I think that was enough for Face ID to not unlock the device. To be honest, iFixit's tests were quite weak, but they give us an idea of the challenges Face ID will have to face in the future. We know it doesn't work with photos or partial 3D models, and it also requires open eyes (that prevents unauthorized unlocks with sleeping people). Its Achilles' heel so far is twins.
