Google Will Patch The Flaw In Pixel 4's Face Unlock, But Not Now

Dhir Acharya - Oct 22, 2019

Pixel 4's face unlock works even with a person’s closed eyes, posing security issues. Google says that it will patch the flaw within the next few months.

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For Google Pixel 4, the search giant has replaced the fingerprint sensor with the secure face unlock feature with a complex infrared 3D dot projector, similar to that on the iPhone. But the difference is that the system on the Pixel 4 works even with a person’s closed eyes, posing security issues. And the company now says that it will patch the flaw within the next few months.

Since the face unlock feature works even if a person’s eyes are closed, bad people can abuse this to access your phone easily just by holding the device up to your face as you’re sleeping, or worse, dead. Such an incident is the reason why Apple’s FaceID offers a toggle for “Require Attention for Face ID” to add another security level, forcing users to really look at the phone before gaining access.

When Google launched its Pixel 4 last week, it wasn’t clear if a similar feature would come to the phone’s face unlock. While some reports claimed the inclusion of an attention-check feature, others said the opposite.

According to a representative of Google, as Gizmodo reached out for further info, the company has been working to create an option where users will be required to keep their eyes open while unlocking the phone. The representative said that this change will roll out in a software update within the next few months.

For now, Pixel 4 owners can try unlocking the phone with their eyes closed as well as activate another security feature requiring a password, PIN, or pattern for unlocking the handset. Previously, the secure face unlock feature on the Pixel 4 was desired as it’s a strong biometric, meeting the security requirement for use in app authentication and payments. It works against invalid unlock attempts through other means, a mask for example.

Right now, there isn’t an exact timetable for the update timeline, but it may come by year-end. During the wait, if you want to secure your Pixel 4 as you sleep, you have the option to turn on the Lockdown feature by visiting the setting menus, open Display, then tap on Advanced, then select Lock Screen Display and toggle on “Show lockdown option.”