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Galaxy S10 fingerprint flaw spooks banks into taking countermeasures

Some banks are removing their apps from Galaxy S10 phones, while others are disabling fingerprint authentication.
By
October 22, 2019
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus Fingerprint reader

The Galaxy S10 fingerprint flaw has forced some banks to take matter into their own hands.

Since fingerprint scanners became popular on smartphones, most banks started supporting the biometric login method. However, some Galaxy S10 phones can be unlocked with anyone’s fingerprints by simply placing a screen protector on top of the display and pressing the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.

Some Redditors are now reporting that certain banks are removing their apps from Galaxy S10 phones or are blocking the fingerprint authentication method on them.

NatWest and Nationwide Building Society banks in the UK have apparently taken action to prevent misuse of fingerprint logins on Galaxy S10 phones.

Galaxy S10 fingerprint flaw natwest bank app warning

While NatWest has removed its banking app from the Play Store on Galaxy S10 devices, Nationwide Building Society has disabled fingerprint authentication.

The move isn’t limited to UK banks as a user from Israel has also reported the removal of the fingerprint authentication method on their banking app.

Friendly reminder: Biometrics are not the best way to secure your phone
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ZTE Axon 10 Pro in-display fingerprint sensor

There are no reports yet of banks taking similar action on Galaxy S10 phones in the US.

Samsung has promised that it would issue a security patch for the problem sometime this week. Perhaps it’s advisable to remove fingerprint authentication from your banking app on the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus until the company fixes the flaw.

Has your bank taken countermeasures to circumvent the Galaxy S10 fingerprint flaw? Let us know in the comments section below.