Obligatory: https://archive.is/Y8eCV
> Apple introduced the optional recovery key in 2020 to protect users from online hackers. […]
> iPhone thieves with your passcode can flip on the recovery key and lock you out. And if you already have the recovery key enabled, they can easily generate a new one, which also locks you out. […]
> So long as you can access your iPhone, you can add or reset a recovery key without any extra credentials. Apple says this is a convenience measure. However, it also gives thieves easier access.
Uff! Security vs convenience is a difficult problem, but only protecting against remote/online hacking is a massive oversight! One shouldn’t underestimate the incentives for thiefs stealing your passcode and device in real life.
Most of the time she still reaches for her old Android because it unlocks instantly (and properly, not to a stupid lock screen!) with a fingerprint.
My Samsung on the other hand always opens flawlessly with a fingerprint scanner.
What is Apple trying to avoid here by not including one?
The dark makes no sense. It’s not using visible spectrum, it uses IR laser dots and flood illuminator coupled with an IR camera to map and photograph your face in 3d.
Mask Auth only works afaik with iPhone 12 and greater.
Apple used to include Touch ID. Some devices still have it (iPads etc). They are trying to avoid something though - there’s no physical space on the devices for finger print scanner. The iPad integrates it into the on/off button which is large and exposed. But most phones have very small physical buttons that are typically covered by cases. The rest of the screen (sans notch) is edge to edge touch screen.
On my iPhone 14 the Face ID is basically flawless and very fast. I would suspect your “new” device that’s second gen Face ID is simply not as capable as the fifth gen on market today.
But, dude, if you like android, go for it.
> While there are mixed opinions from privacy experts on which is more secure, Apple claims that Face ID is 20 times more secure than Touch ID. While the chances of someone unlocking your iPhone using a spoofed fingerprint is one in 50,000, this number grows exponentially to a false positive of one in a million when it comes to Face ID.
This happened to me twice in the span of an hour while the phone was face up on my desk at work. I can only guess Face ID is being triggered repeatedly by some feature and is failing so it is disabled.
Perversely this means I’m not as willing to use a very long complex passcode because I don’t want to have to type all that if I’m in a rush and Face ID stops working suddenly.
Personally I would prefer they bring back Touch ID.
It's probably the notifications on your lock screen triggering a Face ID check in case you want to read what they say. You could reduce the number of notifications that you receive, or use a Focus Mode while at work, or keep the phone in a pocket or face down/in a dark place.
1. If you reboot your phone, you have to enter your passcode.
2. Some people prefer to use a passcode for legal reasons. Essentially the police can compel you to unlock your phone via faceID and touchID, but not passcode.
3. Some people might just like it and/or be used to it.
But sometimes you don't have the time. From what I recall, the police were able to apprehend Ross Ulbricht (of Silk Road fame) before he could log out of his computer.