Fingerprint sensor in iPhone 5S is no silver bullet, researchers say

The fingerprint sensor in Apple’s new iPhone 5S has the potential to enhance the security of the device, but the devil will be in the details.

Its effectiveness will depend on the strength of the implementation and whether it’s used in conjunction with other security credentials, researchers said.

Apple unveiled two new iPhone models Tuesday, the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S, the latter of which has a fingerprint sensor dubbed Touch ID built into the home button. The sensor will allow users to use their fingerprints instead of a password to unlock the device and make purchases on iTunes. It’s not clear if the feature will also be used in other scenarios that have yet to be revealed or if third-party applications will also be able to use it to authenticate users.

SOURCE: computerworld.com