Instead of running to Apple to unlock iPhones involved in criminal case, cops may have found a new path to get past Touch ID’s security: 3D printing fingers.
Police officers asked for aid from the lab of professor Anil Jain at the University of Michigan this year to help them recreate a murder victim’s fingerprints by 3D printing each digit so they can attempt to unlock the device, which they think may contain clues that would help solve the case.
The Michigan police officers already had the victims prints on file, according to a report from Fusion that reveals the lab is still in the process of testing different metallic particles to add to make the prints more conductive.
Most 3D printed models aren’t conductive enough to activate fingerprint sensors like Touch ID that use tiny circuits to generate an image of the fingerprint. Professors at the lab plan to run tests on the fingers for a few more weeks before giving them over to law enforcement to use on the iPhone.
Police might be disappointed when they try to use the fingers though because Touch ID’s Secure Enclave is supposed to discard keys it retains after 48 hours or with 5 incorrect attempts.
iPhone security and privacy became a huge political issue earlier this year during the investigation of the San Bernardino terrorists iPhone 5c. Apple refused to help the FBI unlock the device and was then called before Congress to explain itself.
If the models from Dr. Jain’s lab work to unlock the iPhone it may be the first time a 3D printing finger was used to unlock a dead person’s phone, giving cops a new tool in the cat and mouse game of security.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
10 responses to “Cops 3-D print murder victim’s finger to unlock iPhone”
The accurate headline should be: “Cops 3-D print murder victim’s finger TO ATTEMPT to unlock iPhone” (caps to emphasize what should have been added for accuracy).
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I don’t see why they had to 3D print anything.
If they have the body, can’t they just remove a finger and bring it to the evidence room?
They can bring the iPhone to the morgue.
The iPhone’s TouchID checks for live tissue, body temp… a 3D won’t work.
Right, because that is the moral thing to do, despite the fact that it won’t work. SMH
That wont work because of decomposition. Theres a whole documentary episode of like autopsy or forensic files about this subject. You have to remove the persons fingers and rehydrate them and this process cant be done over again. Its on google patents as US20050104363
If the owner of the iPhone hasn’t unlocked it in the last 8 hours, then Touch ID will not be active, thus they will have to unlock it via the passcode. Nice try though!
The passcode can always be used instead of Touch ID, and is required under the following circumstances:
* The device has just been turned on or restarted.
* The device has not been unlocked for more than 48 hours.
* The passcode has not been used to unlock the device in the last six days and TouchID has not unlocked the device in the last eight hours.
* The device has received a remote lock command.
* After five unsuccessful attempts to match a fingerprint.
* When setting up or enrolling new fingers with Touch ID.
The one in bold above is somewhat new.
Apple has not explained the reason for the change, but it may be in response to court rulings that have compelled suspects to use Touch ID to unlock their iPhones. The Fifth Amendment means that nobody can be compelled to reveal their passcode, but two separate courts have ruled that there is no protection against providing a fingerprint to unlock the phone.
All the above is correct! So, the thing to remember is to always turn off the iPhone as soon as being approached by cops!
identical twins will have a similar arrangement of patterns, but never the same minute details.
I wonder if the iPhone knows this
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