Windows 10’s Facial Recognition Can Distinguish Between Identical Twins
John Williamson / 9 years ago
Windows Hello is Microsoft’s integrated biometric reading system exclusive to Windows 10 and it adds an enhanced layer of security. Instead of inserting a password or pin, Windows employs photographic analysis with heat and depth detection to accurately judge a person’s facial features. This is possible using devices which contain Intel’s RealSense camera.
The Australian decided to test Windows’ biometric scanning by selecting a number of identical twins. During the procedure, each twin’s photo was registered to a unique account and tried to login through facial recognition. Unbelievably, there wasn’t a single instance of a twin being logged into the wrong account and Windows managed to perfectly distinguish between twins. As a result, it’s extremely secure and virtually impossible to bypass this system. One could argue it’s a much safer way of encrypting data than traditional passwords.
Additionally, security experts often advise users to have a multitude of passwords for different services. This means it can be a chore remembering individual keys and some websites have their own rule-sets. For example, my phone carrier password requires a capital letter, at least 1 number and a symbol. However, privacy advocates may be concerned about the scanning data. Does Microsoft retain previous scans to ensure improved security?
Personally, it’s not something I would use but I’m astounded by the accuracy of Windows Hello which could easily replace the need for passwords in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AsoSnOmhvU
Thank you The Australian for providing us with this information.