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In recent years, facial unlocking has begun to gain importance. Either because companies are starting to bet on it as a unique or complementary security method to the fingerprint reader. The funny thing about this matter is that most Android phones have facial recognition via software. This functionality was added by Google in one of its versions of Android, if you did not know of its existence and you want to check its operation, keep reading that we will explain it to you step by step.
We have to say that this unlocking system is not as safe as the iris recognition of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 or the Face ID of the iPhone X. It can serve as a complement to the fingerprint reader in the case of having it or to any other security measure that we have, either pattern, pin or password. Remember that it is always advisable to carry your mobile with some type of lock so that in case of loss they cannot access our data.
How to set up facial recognition
We have said that the facial recognition that Android devices have is via software so we do not have a camera dedicated to it, but we will use the front one. This also interferes with where to activate it. As we do not have dedicated hardware, we do not have dedicated software, this is summarized that we will not have a specific section where to configure facial recognition. We have to resort to the Smart Lock to activate it and configure facial recognition as a means of unlocking.
The Smart Lock is hidden in the settings menu. To find it we have to go to the "Security" section, depending on the Android version, this section may have other names. In Android Oreo it is called "Security and location" but if your terminal has a fingerprint reader as is my case, it may be called "Security and fingerprint". Once located, it will ask us for the pattern, PIN or password that we have in place. If we do not have any, we must configure a security measure from those mentioned above.
When we have configured the security measure of our choice or the one we already had, click on "Facial recognition". An information message will skip us indicating that it is not as secure as a password and that anyone with similar characteristics can use it. Later I will explain the security tests that I have done.
Once this message is passed, it will ask us to find a place with good lighting. It would be best to do it in a room where the features of our face are perfectly appreciated. After this we have to keep the phone at eye level. Shows us a circle on the screen, our face at all times must be within this circle. We have to remain immobile until the process is complete, this will last a few seconds. With this everything would be done.
If we wanted to eliminate facial recognition, what we would have to do is enter the Smart Lock again. In the "Facial recognition" section we would have to click on "Remove facial recognition". With this we would eliminate it.
Improve facial recognition
We have seen that the Smart Lock itself gives us a warning that facial recognition is not as reliable as other more traditional security methods. This is so because it scans an image of our face, not a specific scratch that will not change over time, such as the irises in the case of the Samsung Note 8 or the relief, depth and features of the face like the iPhone X. Therefore, the same Smart Lock offers us a way to improve facial recognition.
To improve facial recognition, all we have to do is go back to the Smart Lock and press "Face recognition". Once there we will get the option "Improve facial recognition". We have to do the same steps as the first time we set up facial recognition. Only now we must change the lighting or the objects that we have in the face.
If for example we use glasses to read, then this is the perfect time to put them on and configure easy recognition. With this, what it will do is save the information of our face with more than one configuration. The more times we do it, the safer it will be. If, for example, we change our appearance with a new haircut, an earring or accessory, it would be necessary to improve facial recognition again to make it more effective.
Facial recognition testing and security
Despite the message that appears on the Smart Lock indicating that it is less secure than a traditional lock. It is a security measure inferior to the fingerprint reader. To make it safer, we have to do our part. First of all, we must enter the "Improve facial recognition" section every time we change our appearance minimally. With this we teach the software to be smarter.
In the tests that I have carried out, it has not been unlocked with a photo or with my father's face. This tells us that it is not as easy to trick as we are led to believe. A clear disadvantage in terms of this facial recognition is that it does not automatically take us to the home screen but stays on the lock screen waiting for us to slide.
Another disadvantage is that in situations with complicated lighting it does not work properly. These situations are for example bad lighting or headlight. For it to work properly we have to focus our mobile towards our face, it is not worth looking at the mobile side of the eye since this will not unlock.
It is clear that the integrated facial recognition is not the competition of biometric sensors such as the fingerprint reader, the iris scanner. But it is an interesting complement to conventional security systems such as the PIN, password or pattern. It can make life easier for us in situations where our hands are full.
