Google's new Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, unveiled last Tuesday, can be unlocked with a facial recognition system similar to Apple's iPhone Face ID, but with one significant difference: Google's also works when you have eyes. closed. Chris Fox of BBC News was among the first to notice this, pointing out how this difference can be a serious problem for the protection of privacy and data. If the recognition works even when you have your eyes closed, it means that anyone could unlock someone else's smartphone, for example by pointing it in their face while they are sleeping, or during a theft to gain access to data and prevent the phone from being locked remotely. at a later time by its owner.
The circumstance is confirmed by a page of the “Pixel Phone Guide” where it is explained that: “Your phone can be unlocked by another person if it is turned towards your face, even if you have your eyes closed. Keep your phone in a safe place, for example in the front pocket of your bag “.
When Apple introduced its first version of Face ID for iPhones a couple of years ago, there was similar controversy about the security risks of users and their data. Apple later clarified that Face ID was designed to work only with eyes open, and pointed at the phone screen, in order to reduce the risk of unwanted iPhone unlocks by someone else. This solution makes the protection of your data safer even in the case of police operations, which in many countries cannot involve the search of data on a locked smartphone, unless authorized by the judicial authority.
On the Pixel 4 the system that detects open eyes is not there and this according to various experts could be a problem, at least in the immediate future. The Verge reported that an option is probably already in development that should introduce a new system on open eyes, which will arrive in the future via a smartphone update, although for now it is not clear when it will be released or if it will activate the. option by default.
Google has given a rather vague answer for now: “We don't have anything specific to announce about upcoming features, but as with most of our products, this feature is designed to be improved over time with future software updates.” Pending an update, new Pixel 4 owners will still have some options to mitigate the problem. The first and most drastic involves the deactivation of the option to unlock the smartphone with your face, even if this forces you to use the classic PIN, as the new Pixel 4 does not have a fingerprint sensor. Alternatively, you can keep the unlocking system with your face, but activate the “Lockdown” option from the settings, so that it appears in the menu that appears when you hold down the key to turn off the smartphone. If you select the option, the phone blocks all alternative systems to the PIN to increase the security of the device.
