Biometric access feels like something out of a sci-fi movie: fingerprint scanners, face unlock, voice recognition.
But how secure are they really? 🤔Did you know that a hacker once reconstructed a German defense ministers fingerprints from a photo in a press release [1]? Or that many “face unlock” systems can be fooled with something as simple as a photo [2]?

It sounds dramatic, but here’s the thing: not all attacks are practical for every situation. In our courses in both formal and informal education at ProCyD, we always emphasize understanding your so called “threat model”. Some attack vectors take a lot of time, effort, and resources, and may not be relevant to your everyday risks. At the end of the day, the best security is the one you’ll actually use. Whether it’s biometrics, strong passwords, or multi-factor authentication: what matters is staying informed and making thoughtful choices.
Stay safe. 💻🔒

[1] The Guardian: Hacker fakes German minister’s fingerprints using photos of her hands (Tue 30 Dec 2014 12.43 CET)
[2] The Times: Premium phones can be unlocked with user’s photo (Friday April 17 2026, 12.01am BST)