Most of us have lots of personal information on our mobile devices we"d rather wasn"t made public. Whether it"s for legitimate or more illicit reasons, smartphone security has become next to paramount. Until now, a personal identification number has been the only obstacle lying between a thief and your personal data.
Modern smartphones have been calling out for additional security measures, and in light of recent patent filings from Apple, these measures may soon be appearing on your own device. In various stages, the Cupertino-based company have previously patented fingerprint scanning on a mobile device, although it appears recent filings show the company is taking the technology more seriously for inclusion in its next generation smartphone.
Patently Apple reports that a patent filed in February 2013 show a fingerprint sensor may be incorporated into the bezel of an upcoming device. The placement may perhaps allude to the removal of the home button, an omission that has long been rumoured in the Apple community. Incorporating the sensor into the bezel leads to protection against any environmental hazards and outside factors. The sensor creates a 2D image of the user"s fingerprint, which ensures an accurate reading can be taken whilst keeping the process of unlocking the device is a short one.
After Apple acquired mobile security firm AuthenTec for $356 million back in 2012, it was clear the company were interested in building fingerprint scanning technology into their devices. The only question that remains, though, is how long it"ll be before we see it materialise.
Source: TechRadar | Image via PatentlyApple