It appears that the OnePlus 6 face unlock feature needs more improvement after a video shows that a user is able to unlock the smartphone with a photo.
Security Concerns Over The Technology
Industry experts acknowledge that the system still has its flaws. Even Apple's Face ID feature continues to receive negative feedback from consumers who encounter varying problems. Yet, among all smartphones that flaunt the feature, Cupertino's device seems to be the only one that somehow gets its right.
On the other hand, its predecessor, the OnePlus 5T, is the manufacturer's first smartphone that supported face unlock. According to company insiders, the biometric tech installed on the 5T, which was developed by a Chinese security firm known as SenseTime, works better than the one on the OnePlus 6.
Reports confirm that owners can use the 5T's front-facing cameras to enroll face from a printed photo. However, its security algorithm will not unlock the smartphone.
Unless changes have been made to its components, the manufacturer could possibly fix the issue with a software update in the future.
Alarming Feedback
After showing everyone that unlocking the OnePlus 6 via face unlock is easy with just a photo, Twitter user @rikvdujin also tried using a black and white photo and produced the same results. This means that anyone can just print out a photo of the user, unlock the smartphone, and gain access to all the personal data within the device.
I printed my face to unlock my OnePlus 6 for the lulz... it worked ¯_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/rAVMq8JKBr — rik (@rikvduijn) May 29, 2018
It appears that the company is not even concerned about the issue. It explained that the option was added as a means of convenience and is not intended to replace other existing options. Therefore, the user cannot enable the feature for secure applications such as banking, payments, and others.
PhoneArena reports that it reached out to the manufacturer to inquire about its views about the security fiasco.
"We designed Face Unlock around convenience, and we took corresponding measures to optimise its security we always recommend you use a password/PIN/fingerprint for security," the company stated.
Until OnePlus comes up with a better solution, experts recommend that owners rely on the fingerprint sensor or consider using a PIN or password to secure their smartphones.
Not Likely Changing Anytime Soon
Seemingly, OnePlus 6 owners are stuck with what they have until a future model comes up with a better solution. However, they are not alone as most Samsung users also receive a similar disclaimer when it comes to the face and iris recognition boasted by its flagship models.
For now, the harsh truth Android users have to live with is the unavailability of a viable solution for the face unlock, which rivals that of Apple's Face ID technology.
