Face Unlock vulnerability found in Google Pixel 8 Pro: Check all details

A Reddit user claimed that their sibling was able to unlock their Pixel 8 Pro using their own face, despite the two individuals looking "very different."

This revelation raises concerns about the reliability and security of the Face Unlock system on the Pixel 8 series.

According to the Reddit post, the user's brother, who had a Pixel 7 Pro, effortlessly unlocked the Pixel 8 Pro using Face Unlock. The user shared their experience of setting up the phone and their shock when their sibling successfully accessed the device.

The user also attempted to unlock their sibling's Pixel 7 Pro without success until retraining it to their brother's face. The discrepancy in the Face Unlock system's behaviour between the two devices added to the perplexity.

Pixel 8 Series has Class 3 Face Unlock

Google has repeatedly emphasised the robust security of the Face Unlock feature on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. The company claims that the technology meets the highest Android biometric class standard, Class 3.

This classification assures users that it is highly unlikely for someone else to be able to unlock their phone using Face Unlock. However, the recent incident has raised doubts about the efficacy of this claim.

Possible Explanations

Two potential explanations arise from this incident. Firstly, it is possible that the Pixel 8's Face Unlock system was indeed misled by the sibling, who may share some facial features with the user despite looking different.

Facial recognition software relies on specific data points, such as the positioning of eyes, nose, and mouth, to identify individuals. If there are similarities in these features between the siblings, it is plausible that the system may have been fooled.

The second possibility is that there could be a flaw in the Face Unlock system itself, allowing individuals who resemble the user to bypass the security measures.

This raises concerns about the overall reliability and integrity of the system, as a security loophole of this nature could potentially be exploited by malicious actors.

Google's Response and Future Steps

As of now, Google has not responded to the Reddit post or commented on the reported vulnerability. It remains uncertain whether the company is aware of the issue, actively investigating it, or working on a potential fix.

Users will be eagerly awaiting Google's official statement to address these concerns and provide reassurance regarding the security of the Face Unlock feature.

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