Samsung says Galaxy S10 fingerprint scanner flaw could let anyone unlock phone
Samsung admitted that a flaw in its Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 fingerprint scanners could let unauthorized users unlock your smartphone if there's a screen protector present.
The Korean tech giant said Friday that it's trying to fix the problem soon. To be safe, you could simply turn off the fingerprint scanner in the meantime.
This week, a Galaxy S10 owner told U.K.-based publication The Sun that her phone could be unlocked by her husband when there's a cheap screen cover protecting the fingerprint sensor.
Her husband's fingerprints were not registered to the device.
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The flagship Galaxy S10 series was launched in March with an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner baked into the display. It provides "invisible yet vault-like security that keeps your data safe," Samsung says.
The biometric data reader detects "the 3D ridges and valleys of your unique fingerprint to quickly and accurately recognize you," the tech giant said. Fingerprints not only unlock the smartphones, but they can authorize mobile payments via the Samsung Pay system.
The company said the security vulnerability affects its Galaxy Note10 and 10+ as well as its S10 and S10+ smartphones. The glitch happens when the phone's built-in sensors recognize patterns on silicon screen protectors along with fingerprints, Samsung said.
"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," Samsung said.
The next software update could be ready within a week, the company said.
Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Galaxy S10 fingerprint scanning flaw could let anyone access phone
