Was introduced not long ago new flagship Samsung Galaxy Note 7. One of his key functions It became possible to unlock the device by scanning the iris of the eye.
The iris of our eyes, like a fingerprint, has its own unique pattern. Therefore, it is a convenient means of authentication. Biometric civil passports, if you remember, record exactly this information, because unlike a fingerprint, it is not yet possible to fake an iris. Moreover, it does not change over time.
However, the scanner does not just take a photograph of your eye and then compare it with the original. In practice, the procedure begins with a directed near-spectrum infrared beam. This light is much better for identification than daylight, because it is easier for the camera to capture the iris pattern illuminated by IR light. In addition, such a scanner can work in the dark. In this case, even people with poor vision can undergo the iris identification procedure, since the IR beam passes freely through transparent glasses and lenses. After the iris pattern is fixed, the algorithm translates the iris pattern into code, which is compared with the existing database.
Capturing an eye image - resulting image - identifying the iris and eyelid - selecting this area - removing the eyelid from the image - normalizing this area - transcoding - comparison with the database
For the most part, the scanner of the new Samsung phablet works according to the scheme described above, the curious detail is that on front panel Galaxy Note 7 there is a camera that deals exclusively with iris recognition. Why can't the front camera perform this task? Because the camera must be sensitive to the IR spectrum. In regular cameras, IR light is filtered because it ruins regular photos. In addition, the reading camera has a narrower viewing angle to better see the user's eye, especially at a distance.
Some users have expressed concern that such a scanner in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 may be unsafe, in particular whether its frequent use will lead to permanent eye damage. Such questions are quite reasonable, because to scan, the smartphone sends a beam of light directly into your eye, and since this light is invisible to humans, the pupil does not try to protect itself from it, so the light hits the retina without encountering any obstacles.
In fact, we cannot be 100% sure that frequent use of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 iris scanner will not have some effect on our eyes. If an optometrist is reading this article right now, we'd love to hear your expert opinion on this matter.
The company itself warns users that there is no need to hold the smartphone too close to your eyes during identification, if you follow this warning everything should be fine. However, since iris readings are not that common, mass testing and human-based results are not yet available. When they appear, it may be too late to warn anyone, or maybe vice versa - confirmation will come that the function is completely safe.
If you are confused, let me clarify, scanning the iris and retina are similar processes, but differ in the basic principle. When scanning the retina, the algorithm does not read the retinal pattern, but the fundus image. But for everyday use, it is much easier to use an iris scanner, since to read the retina, the device must be brought close to the eye. In the case of a smartphone, this would look very stupid.
Smartphones have had fingerprint readers for a long time; they are fast, reliable, secure and cheap enough to be installed even in Chinese smartphones less than $200. Why do we need iris scanners then? Mainly because they are several times more reliable and safe. The main argument is that we leave fingerprints on almost every surface we touch, which means it’s much easier to get a copy of the fingerprint. At the same time, wet and dirty fingers are often difficult for the device to recognize. It is extremely difficult to obtain a copy of the iris, and the inside of the eyes is never stained with dirt, so it is much easier for the owner to use authentication in any conditions. Although, in the movies they have long come up with a way to bypass this protection:
I believe that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7's scanner will not make it a hit. Yes, this technology works and you can show it off to your friends, but for most, using a fingerprint scanner will be enough. However, it is possible that the new product will be appreciated primarily by the corporate segment, which needs to protect information on their smartphone better than others. For ordinary people, I think, it will be too lazy to bring the smartphone to a certain distance, while still performing the necessary actions. But this does not mean that Samsung will not develop the technology or that it will suddenly not take off and even migrate to the iPhone. This serious toy has a chance.
The flagship smartphone Samsung Galaxy S8 received not only a fingerprint sensor, but also an iris scanner, which, according to company representatives, is a more reliable means of biometric identification of the owner. However, representatives of the German hacker community Chaos Computer Clubs (CCC) managed It's relatively easy to fool the scanner Samsung devices.
As hackers have found out, all you need to do to do this is digital photography eyes in night mode or by turning off the infrared filter on the camera. After a little processing, which may include changing the brightness and contrast, the photo of the eye needs to be printed on a laser printer (the study authors ironically note that they were able to achieve the best results using Samsung printers), and then place a regular contact lens on the pupil and show the photo to a smartphone scanner to unlock.
“If you value the data on your smartphone or want to use it to make payments, then using a traditional PIN code is a more reliable approach than biometric authentication,” said CCC spokesman Dirk Engling, recalling that the rainbow scanner Samsung shell Galaxy S8 can be used to log in to the system Samsung Pay.
A short video demonstrating the effectiveness of the method of deceiving a smartphone scanner was published on YouTube.
Samsung later commented on the demonstrated method of bypassing the iris scanner. As stated in the company's message received by NEWSru.com, the described method can only be implemented using sophisticated technology and subject to the coincidence of a number of circumstances.
"Need a photo of the retina high resolution, taken with an IR camera, contact lenses and the smartphone itself. An internal investigation found that achieving results using this method is incredibly difficult,” Samsung said.
The company also said that the Galaxy S8's iris recognition technology was developed and implemented after rigorous testing to ensure high level scan accuracy and prevent unauthorized access attempts, and promised to make every effort to ensure the safety of user data.
Let us recall that previously a group of computer security specialists from the University of Michigan had a simple way to hack the fingerprint scanner that many people are equipped with. modern smartphones using a conventional inkjet printer.
8 reasons why you need to wait for the Galaxy S8, and now we will share with you all the known features and characteristics of the yet unannounced Galaxy S8 and S8+.
1. Galaxy S8 will get custom on-screen buttons
The Galaxy S8 and S8+ have non-standard navigation buttons. As you can see in one of the photos, the bottom of the screen is dedicated to virtual navigation buttons, and the top is probably dedicated to something else (for example, extended notifications). The corners of the screen are strongly rounded, but this will not affect the perception of content in applications and games - it will fit entirely. The extra 400 pixels (200 at the top and the same at the bottom) in full-screen applications (without navigation buttons) will likely be disabled and, thanks to the peculiarities of the AMOLED matrix, the black bars will be perceived as part of the body and not the screen.
2. Snapdragon 835 will be exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy S8
The first smartphone with Snapdragon 835 will be the Samsung Galaxy S8, and only then will the processor become available to other manufacturers. This is because Qualcomm is developing the Snapdragon 835 in collaboration with Samsung, in return Qualcomm gives exclusive rights to use Samsung's processor. Modification to Exynos 8895 is also possible.
3. Modification to Exynos 8895
Samsung Electronics has announced the launch of the new flagship 9-series Exynos 8895. The new chipset is manufactured using a 10nm FinFET process technology with an improved 3D transistor structure, which provides up to 27% performance gain and up to 40% lower power consumption compared to processors manufactured using the 14nm process technology.
Exynos 8895 has now already been put into mass production and, perhaps, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be produced in two versions, as was before, with different chipsets: on the proprietary Exynos 8895 platform and on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835.
Samsung has confirmed rumors about the development of an intelligent voice assistant, which will be implemented in the future flagship Galaxy smartphone.Bixby will understand 7-8 languages, including Korean and Chinese. That's more than Google Assistant, but less than Siri. Voice assistant will have artificial intelligence and a chatbot. Perhaps your smartphone will have a special button to launch Bixby. Samsung has big plans for Bixby, with reports that the assistant could be built into other company products, such as home appliances.
5. Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ will receive protection against water and dust according to the IP68 standard.
IP68 provides protection for the smartphone at a maximum depth of one and a half meters. This means that with the Galaxy, swimming in pools and natural waters is quite possible, as long as you feel the ground under your feet.
6. There will no longer be a physical Home button.
The signature home button, which has become one of the hallmarks of the Galaxy line, has been removed from the front panel. The scanner was supposed to be built into the display, but judging by the leaked image, it will be located on the back side to the right of the camera.
7. Galaxy S8 can be turned into a computer
The flagships will be complemented by new accessories: an updated Gear VR headset and a DeX docking station for using the smartphone as a computer when connected to a monitor.
8. Everyone is famous Galaxy specifications S8+
According to latest leaks, Samsung Galaxy S8+ will receive:
Samsung continues to sell worldwide and users are starting to complain about Galaxy problems S8. New problems emerge almost daily. With that in mind, below we provide a list common problems problems that you may encounter and how to fix them. These solutions also work for the Galaxy S8 Plus.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is available for sale in less than a month, which means more problems will appear in the near future.
It's still the same worthy replacement seniors and , just need to take some issues into account. We will look into the top complaints and suggest fixes and other solutions to the problem.
This is an impressive smartphone that has a lot to offer its users. It has an amazing Infinity Edge screen with tiny bezels, a ton of performance, and a great camera. But just like all flagship smartphones, it is not perfect.
How to fix Galaxy S8 fingerprint scanner problems?
The first and most a big problem Galaxy S8 for most users - the location of the fingerprint scanner. It's location is just terrible. The scanner is located on the back of the smartphone, but not under the camera. To make matters worse, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are larger than most flagship smartphones, which puts the scanner out of reach of most users.
Unfortunately, there is no real way To fix this problem, owners just have to get used to the new position of the scanner. Muscle memory will make you look for a home button that no longer exists. The only real solution is to carefully configure the scanner, which will help accurately read the fingerprint.
For example, after installing the cover, the scanner may be less able to recognize fingerprints. Delete the saved prints and repeat the setup with the case, making sure to follow the on-screen instructions during this process. Changing angles, finger direction and other tweaks can give you better results.
The scanner is not a button, there is no characteristic click during scanning, so you never know if you hit the camera instead of the scanner. As a result, the camera lens quickly becomes stained.
How to fix the face and iris scanner?
Luckily, Samsung provides several different ways biometric unlocking of the device to compensate for the poor placement of the fingerprint scanner. You have access to facial recognition and the Iris scanner we saw on the Galaxy Note 7.
The Iris scanner works at night, through glasses, and at larger angles than on the Galaxy Note 7. However, in the comments, users claim that none of these methods work well enough. If you are having problems, we recommend deleting your Iris scanner settings and setting it up again. Try to open your eyes wide the first time to ensure better reading.
With facial recognition, things are even worse. Some users love the feature, while others find it useless and complain that facial recognition doesn't work. A photo of your face can also fool the system. Therefore, be careful if this is your only method of unlocking your smartphone.
Instead of using your face, we recommend using a feature called "Smart Lock". It uses GPS to save trusted locations, like at home or work, and your voice and your Bluetooth accessories can also unlock the Galaxy S8 automatically. This way, when you are at home, your smartphone is not blocked. All you have to do is leave home, and your smartphone will be blocked. This solution allows you to interact with phone scanners as little as possible.
Go to Settings - Lock screen and security - Smart Lock and turn on the feature. Then set up your location and connect your Bluetooth devices to better work functions.
How to fix not full screen Galaxy apps S8?
Another big problem that we continue to see complaints about is apps that don't go to full screen mode. With large 5.8" or 6.2" Quad screen HD, some applications are not able to use all the space. This is due to the aspect ratio, similar to 16:9 widescreen cinema, which introduces black bars. Luckily, you can fix this quickly and easily.
So far, most applications have worked great and scaled, but some don't. If so, follow these steps to fix this issue.
Pull down the notification panel and go to Settings (gear icon in the upper right corner);
Find and select "Display/Screen";
Select the "Full screen applications" option;
Find any application that is not highlighted and switch it to full-screen mode;
Now the application will automatically scale to the new 18.5:9 aspect ratio and fill the entire screen. Some of them may not look right, but almost all the apps we saw appeared fine. Alternatively, owners can tap the Recent button and tap Expand (green icon) to instantly switch to full-screen mode for that app. If it is needed.
How to fix problems Wi-Fi Galaxy S8?
Countless reports have confirmed Wi-Fi issues on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. Owners mention poor connection performance, disconnects and speed dips that prevent them from even loading a website until the smartphone disconnects from Wi-Fi. We see these problems with almost every smartphone that comes to market.
If you encounter Wi-Fi problems on Galaxy S8, we recommend resetting your home router or modem first. Better yet, drop it network settings default. We found that unplugging the router for 10 seconds or so and then starting it up will allow your smartphone to connect. Try going to Settings - Connections - Wi-Fi and reset your wireless network. Then connect again, enter the password and connect again.
If you used Samsung feature Smartswitch for transferring data from an old smartphone, Wi-Fi information is also transferred and new Galaxy The S8 will connect automatically. If this is your case, we strongly recommend that you reconfigure your connection manually.
How to get back the app tray on Galaxy S8?
We not only lack physical button"Home" like everyone else Samsung smartphones for the past seven years, but the Galaxy S8 does not have a shortcut for the app tray. How to find and open all your applications?
Instead of wasting home screen space with a dedicated white button, Samsung created a gesture for the app tray. Simply swipe anywhere on the bottom of the screen to open the app tray. This is a functional change at the phone software level.
You can fix the situation, though. Pinch any free space on the screen. The desktop will become smaller, indicating the transition to editing and page layout mode, as well as rearranging widgets and background image. Click on the “Settings” button (gear). Now go to the “Apps Button” option and select “Show Button”. Now accept the settings and go back. You will see a familiar button at the bottom of the screen, it will open the application tray.
Samsung even added a Home Screen Only option if you want all your apps to remain on your home screens, just like on the iPhone. Try this solution, you will be able to create folders to keep the interface clean.
How to fix red screen tint on Galaxy S8?
Some users, mostly from Korea, have raised the issue of a red tint on the screen that distorts colors. This is not a hardware issue that will require replacing the phone, a software update should fix it.
As you can see above, two smartphones have a reddish tint while one smartphone shows a normal White screen. This is a calibration problem in one form or another, since then Samsung has updated the phone software, offering users a large number of options to customize the screen as you wish. The update is already available in Russia for Galaxy users S8.
Go to Settings - Display - Screen Mode and select a new color mode. Additionally, you can adjust color balance to complete screen color adjustments, including tone and white balance. This the only way get rid of the red tint on Galaxy screen S8.
How to change screen resolution on Galaxy S8?
Another problem is that the Samsung Galaxy S8 comes with a QHD screen (2960 x 1400). Higher than most TVs Full HD (1080p). However, Samsung lowers the default resolution to 1080p for daily use. The manufacturer did the same with the Android 7 Nougat update for the Galaxy S7.
This is a solution that is almost invisible to the user, however, it improves the performance of the smartphone and the time battery life. Most users will not be able to distinguish between QHD and Full HD (1080p) on their phone. However, if you want the Quad HD you paid for, the resolution is easy to change.
Just go to Settings - Display - Screen Resolution and move the slider all the way to the right to WQHD+ for the best screen image.
How to fix wet speaker problems on Galaxy S8?
Like its predecessors, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are IP68 certified, meaning they are protected from water and dust. This means that you can lower your smartphone to a depth of up to two meters for a maximum of 30 minutes. It is protected from damage without plugs covering the ports, no covers for you.
If the Galaxy S8 gets wet, the speakers may sound funny for a while, but water can't cause long-term damage to your smartphone's sound.
Samsung uses a specialized coating on the inside of the speaker and its surface to keep water out. If the speaker doesn't work or sounds bad after getting wet, just let it dry. There is a specialized screen behind the speaker grille, but sometimes just a little water gets on the speaker.
Try shaking the phone, blowing lightly on the speaker grille, or blot your side of the phone to collect any remaining water. Once the speaker is dry, it will work normally.
How to fix bluetooth problems on Galaxy S8?
Even though this is the first smartphone with Bluetooth 5.0, which covers four bands, fast pairing and connects two devices at the same time, we see tons of complaints about Bluetooth.
Several users point out that the Galaxy S8 does not even see their devices, which makes it impossible to connect them to the smartphone. Reminds me of old CDs that were sometimes unreadable. Sometimes the problem becomes very bad connection. We're seeing a flood of complaints on the Samsung forum, but no solution in sight.
One of the participants suggests turning off the Galaxy S8 and your Bluetooth accessory. Turn them back on, remove any connection (pairing) and reconnect to your headphones, speaker or car. Often, a simple reboot is enough to fix Bluetooth problems. Users can also head to Settings - Applications - Bluetooth Search and clear the cache. This solution will remove all pairings, which helps some users.
If you continue to experience problems with Bluetooth, you may have to wait for a software update.
How to fix problems Galaxy cameras S8?
Have you received a "Warning, Camera Failure" notification on your Galaxy S8? Some users complain about this issue and then close the camera app instantly. So you can't take photos.
Just like last year, the smartphone offers a feature called "Smart Stay", which may cause errors. It uses the device's sensors to keep the screen on while you're looking at it. Unfortunately, this feature again interferes with the camera's performance. Head to Settings - Advanced Features and turn off Smart Stay.
We also encountered this issue: The Galaxy S8 camera app closes and displays a warning that the temperature is too high.
This is quite common in a hot car in the summer, but you shouldn't experience any problems when photographing indoors. This should not happen under other conditions. If you have encountered similar problems, write to us.
The other problem is with Vision. A big selling point of the Galaxy S8 is the built-in assistant, which also uses the camera to find information about the subjects you're shooting. For most, the function does not work at all or occasionally. We've retired this feature and hopefully an update in the near future will make the assistant more useful.
How to fix slow charging or wireless charging?
Samsung Galaxy S8 won't explode? After the Note 7 problems, this question comes up quite often. We can't say 100%, but most likely the new flagship is completely safe. Samsung includes 8 battery test points and thoroughly tests its phones before release.
However, you may feel that the smartphone gets a little warm while charging. Other charging complaints include slow speed Galaxy charging S8. I use a cover so I don't feel the heat like others do. If you play games or perform time-consuming tasks, your smartphone may also become warm.
Additionally, Galaxy S8 owners who are concerned about heat while charging can go to Settings - Battery and turn off the "Fast cable charging" option, which uses Quick Charge 2.0 and adaptive Samsung charger. This means that the smartphone will not charge from 0 to 50% in 25-30 minutes, but fully charged will require more than two hours, but it will not get very hot. If your smartphone charges too slowly, make sure that you use a special adapter that is included with your smartphone and is of high quality. USB Type-C.
Owners can't just use USB Type-C cable with the old one charger, as it does not supply enough power to enable fast charging. Remember, if you need extra power, buy the appropriate accessories.
When talking about charging, many reports went through a quick wireless charging, which simply doesn't work for some users, even in the forum panel fast charging from Samsung. We suspect that the update will help fix this issue, perhaps Samsung is limiting the fast charging functionality of some charging pads to keep the smartphone's temperature normal. We'll update this section when we learn more.
How to reset frozen Galaxy S8?
If your phone freezes, you can perform a manual reboot. This will help solve minor random phone problems. Whether it's screen glitches or screen orientation errors, freezing apps or other minor problems, a quick reboot often solves them.
Owners can easily reboot the smartphone by long pressing the power button followed by tapping Restart. The phone will shut down and restart, allowing you to function as intended.
For hard reset we have prepared a separate article. Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons for about 7-8 seconds until the Galaxy S8 vibrates and reboots. This will fix almost any minor Galaxy S8 problem.
Speaking of rebooting, it looks like some users are facing an issue random reboots Galaxy S8. In case the smartphone simply reboots without visible reasons. Judging by over 100 comments on the Samsung forum, this is a fairly common problem. The company is aware of this, and some users say that removing the MicroSD fixes the situation. We recommend formatting the SD card and trying again to check whether the reboots succeeded or not.
Galaxy S8 and the “DQA keeps stopping” message is another common problem that users complain about. An unusual error that appears on some devices. The problem may be resolved after a reboot. The culprit is the "device quality agent" service, which scans Wi-Fi devices. Samsung has reportedly fixed this issue with an update internal interface using the Galaxy Apps Store. The update helped some users fix the error.
How to restore to factory settings Galaxy settings S8?
Last but not least, restore your phone to factory settings. It deletes all user data, apps, messages and other contents on the phone. So use this solution as a last resort. If you have any problems serious problems with Galaxy S8, try resetting to factory settings.
This good way prepare your smartphone for installing new software as upcoming Android update A. Users can then use the SmartSwitch feature to automatically restore the device settings. Go to Settings - General Settings and click Reset.
The whole process will take a few minutes, will restore the original software, like on a smartphone out of the box, deleting everything. Galaxy S8 owners can use Samsung SmartSwitch or Google Restore to get all their apps and settings back. Again, this is a last resort.
In conclusion, the Galaxy S8 remains a new smartphone that has been available for less than a month. The more users buy it, the more new complaints we expect. Slow process Samsung updates may fix some problems of Galaxy S8, otherwise, come back to this article, we will update it for new problems. Write to us if you have any problems, we will do our best to help.
The first reports of “hacking” of the biometric protection systems of Samsung’s flagship smartphones (Galaxy S8 and S8+) actually occurred on the day of their presentation, at the end of March 2017. Let me remind you that at that time the Spanish Spanish observer MarcianoTech conducted a live Periscope broadcast from a Samsung event and deceived the facial recognition system in live. He took a selfie on own phone and demonstrated the result Galaxy photo S8. Oddly enough, this simple trick worked and the smartphone was unlocked.
However Samsung flagships are equipped with several biometric systems at once: a fingerprint scanner, an iris recognition system and a face recognition system. It would seem that fingerprint and iris scanners should be more reliable? Apparently not.
Chaos Computer Club (CCC) researchers report that they were able to fool an iris scanner using an ordinary photo taken from a medium distance. Thus, the famous specialist Jan “Starbug” Krissler writes that it is enough to take a photograph Galaxy owner S8 so that his eyes are visible in the frame. Then you need to print the resulting photo and demonstrate it front camera devices.
The only difficulty is that modern iris scanners (as well as facial recognition systems) can distinguish 2D images from a real human eye or face in 3D. But Starbug easily overcame this difficulty: he simply glued a contact lens over a photo of the eye, and that was enough.
To achieve the best result, the specialist advises taking photos in night shooting, as this will allow you to capture more detail, especially if the victim's eyes are dark in color. Chrissler also writes that it is better to print photos on laser printers Samsung (how ironic).
“A good digital camera with a 200mm lens will be enough to capture an image suitable for fooling an iris recognition system from a distance of up to five meters,” summarizes Chrissler.
This attack may turn out to be much more dangerous than a banal deception of the facial recognition system, because if the latter cannot be used to confirm payments in Samsung Pay, then the iris of the eye can be used for this. Finding a high-quality photo of a victim these days is clearly not difficult, and as a result, an attacker can not only unlock the device and gain access to the user’s information, but also steal funds from someone else’s Samsung Pay wallet.
Chaos Computer Club specialists warn users not to trust biometric systems protection beyond measure and recommend using good old PIN codes and graphic passwords.
The video below illustrates step by step all the stages of creating a fake “eye” and demonstrates the subsequent deception of the Samsung Galaxy S8.
Representatives of Samsung commented on the situation:
"The company is aware of this announcement. Samsung assures users that the iris recognition technology in the Galaxy S8 was developed and implemented after rigorous testing to ensure a high level of scanning accuracy and prevent unauthorized access attempts.
The method described in the material mentioned can only be implemented using complex technology and the coincidence of a number of circumstances. You need a high-resolution photograph of the retina taken with an IR camera, contact lenses and the smartphone itself. An internal investigation found that achieving results using this method was incredibly difficult.
However, even if there is a potential vulnerability, the company’s specialists will make every effort to ensure the security of users’ confidential and personal data as soon as possible.”
