**** The Official Samsung Galaxy S10 Family Thread ****



Samsung's official statement:


Regarding recent reports of a fingerprint recognition issue affecting certain Galaxy devices, we would like to inform our customers of the following information.

This issue involved ultrasonic fingerprint sensors unlocking devices after recognizing 3-dimensional patterns appearing on certain silicone screen protecting cases as users’ fingerprints.

To prevent any further issues, we advise that Galaxy Note10/10+ and S10/S10+/S10 5G users who use such covers to remove the cover, delete all previous fingerprints and newly register their fingerprints.

If you currently use front screen protective covers, to ensure optimum fingerprint scanning, please refrain from using this cover until your device has been updated with a new software patch.

A software update is planned to be released as early as next week, and once updated, please be sure to scan your fingerprint in its entirety, so that the all portions of your fingerprint, including the center and corners have been fully scanned.

Thank you for your patience and we will strive to continuously improve product and service experiences for our users.
https://news.samsung.com/global/statement-on-fingerprint-recognition-issue
 
As far as I understand it it turns out cheaper/softer cases/screen protectors are actually taking an impression of the fingerprint and then scanning that. So in some respects not so much a Samsung issue as an issue of people installing spy equipment on their own screens :D

Basically if you have a Samsung OEM or most likely a glass screen protector this won't affect you at all... It also shouldn't affect you if you register your fingerprints before you apply the case I don't think.
 
No it is a Samsung issue. The woman who first discovered the issue tried her screen protector on her sister's S10 and was able to unlock the sister's phone. If it was imprint memory then it would only unlock her phone not her sister's too. The issue is gel screen protectors fool the ultra sonic reader into thinking a valid fingerprint has been used.

It seems to be a physics issue in terms of ultra sonic surface bounce. A completely new bug that otherwise would never have been considered during R&D.
 
Korea first. I'm tempted to try it as people on reddit saying that Google Pay works whereas last year with Pie it didn't work and you had to use Samsung Pay. I need a larger confirmation scale though as it's just two people so far and they're not in the UK.

Pretty sure Google Pay and certain bank apps wont work.
 
No it is a Samsung issue. The woman who first discovered the issue tried her screen protector on her sister's S10 and was able to unlock the sister's phone. If it was imprint memory then it would only unlock her phone not her sister's too. The issue is gel screen protectors fool the ultra sonic reader into thinking a valid fingerprint has been used.

It seems to be a physics issue in terms of ultra sonic surface bounce. A completely new bug that otherwise would never have been considered during R&D.

Graham Cluley has a good little write-up on it

https://www.grahamcluley.com/about-that-any-fingerprint-can-unlock-your-samsung-galaxy-s10-report/
 
Its weird because in my experience the reader is if anything more prone to NOT accepting my fingerprint.. but then I don't use a screen protector.

I guess the update would basically make the reader err more on the side of rejecting something that isn't identical to what it has stored..

I'd say its an unintended consequence but an embarrassing one nonetheless
 
Even got my £65 Quidco cashback confirmed from Three, making the S10e really cheap so at least have that consolation for the poor battery life.
 
His assumption is just that, doesn't matter if a print is registered before or after screen protector use. A gel protector will unlock it using anyone's finger, or even an iPhone (post above!)
Saw this video on a gsmarena news post, someone showing exactly this. Got me thinking - i assume any of your personal banking/finance apps or anything else at all using the fingerprint ID will be at risk too :(
 
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This is totally bizarre. Can it even be fixed in software? I know Samsung have said they will patch it, but that response came out maybe before they even had a chance to track down the cause.
 
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