LastPass beta tapped into the new Android 10 biometrics and announced that it will support the face authentication feature of Google's Pixel 4. Users will be able to use the device's facial recognition camera to access LastPass.
The beta version, which is now available through the Google Play Store, has a new toggle for switching into the new biometric modality.
Including LastPass beta, there are eight apps that support Pixel 4's face unlock. Much to the users' dismay, a large array of apps do not support Google's Android API yet. Shopping and mobile banking apps still have to rely on passwords or fingerprints for access. Developers are being pushed to release their updates soon.
For users of non-Pixel devices, LastPass will still be accessed through fingerprint scanning. There have been no announcements on plans to expand the face unlock feature of LastPass on other devices.
Security oversight may pose problems for LastPass
Despite the convenience it offers, Pixel 4's security oversight may pose problems for LastPass.
Ever since Apple introduced its Face ID system on iPhone X last 2017, Google has increased its efforts to adopt biometric technology.
Now that they have successfully incorporated the facial recognition technology in their flagship model device, they are looking to improve their tech and make it more robust and secure -
Reports of the Face Unlock system authenticating users even when their eyes are closed surfaced and caused doubts on the security of the technology. This presents a problem as anyone can unlock the device just by merely pointing it at a user's face while they are sleeping.
For this reason, LastPass users must be cautious in using the face unlock system in their password manager.
Google is well aware of this risk and told BBC News in an interview that they will "continue to improve Face Unlock over time."
Facial recognition vs. fingerprint scanning
The existence of security threats connected to facial recognition technologies prompted users to wonder whether the biometric method is more secure than fingerprint scanning.
Facial recognition and fingerprint scanning are authentication technologies used to verify the identity of device users. Each has limitations and advantages to consider.
Facial recognition is a biometric authentication method that relies on a camera or a three-dimensional scan to verify a user's identity. It is hard to cheat, but it requires undivided attention from the user. In industrial and emergency settings, however, these few seconds of looking into the device can be disastrous.
Fingerprint scanning, on the other hand, analyzes an image of a fingerprint, compares markers, and makes a match. However, a two-dimensional copy of the user's fingerprint can fool the scanner and give unauthorized access.
In choosing the right biometric method, users must consider factors such as speed, ease of integration, and the apps or sites to be used.
Luckily for LastPass users, they can choose freely between facial recognition and fingerprint scanning as long as their devices support both technologies.
