Google released Pixel 4 on 24 October the previous month. Though the phone has received a good response, certain technical glitches have left the new owners apprehensive.
The fourth Pixel phone has a splendid camera performance. Alongside excellent android software and various smart features, the phone has some serious drawbacks in its unique face unlock feature.
The team of technicians at BBC found a major flaw even before the release of the enhanced phone. The flaw relates to the security aspect of the phone.
Since the sole phone locking feature is facial recognition. There are reports that the phone could unlock with the face of the owner but even with eyes closed.
This poses a lot of implications for tech users. The security of the user in terms of the data stored on the phone could prove disastrous.
What would happen if someone opens your phone while you are unconscious or sleeping in a hotel or an unknown place? The threat that all your information stored in the phone would be vulnerable to any stranger lurking in the corner.
Google’s Pixel 4 vs. iPhone facial unlock!
Obviously, this facial unlock feature is inspired by the iPhone. On the other hand, the iPhone’s security features have instilled the phone with a sensor that the owner is awake and active while opening the phone.
However, Google had review phones with a certain feature. The review phones allowed the user to change the setting to ensure that open eyes are a pre-requisite.
Though the final product that sold out did not entail such.
It shows carelessness on the part of the Pixel 4 producers who did not deem necessary to protect their customers and their privacy.
Unlike other phones, the Pixel 4 has no other biometric recognition. So only face ID is applicable. And then also the features is not at its best.
In fact, Pixel product manager Sherry Lin declared this facial recognition essentially secure before the phone’s release.
Still, this is not the first time a smartphone company has rolled out phones with drastic security flaws. Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus had the same issue. And thus was heavily criticized.
In Google’s bid to introduce a highly functional smartphone that would surpass other companies, it has ignored or sidelined this major necessity.
The owner of such a phone would always have to be vigilant that their hand does not fall in the wrong hand. It would essentially make one paranoid even in their personal space. A parent would have to be alert that the kid is not able to reach it. A person staying in a hostel would be wary of their acquaintance to barge in their room and extract sensitive information.
This issue of facial recognition as the best security feature has many opposing views. And it looks like Google failed in copying iPhone’s facial feature efficiently, sparking the debate further.