Hacking of TouchID

Within the last week, Apple released their newest phone, the iPhone 5S. One of its main features is a fingerprint reader, called TouchID, that the user can use to unlock the device, purchase apps, and many other security-sensitive actions. They claim that the probability of a wrong finger registering a correct match was about 1 in 50,000. Also within the last week, a video was posted to YouTube where the subject sets the print with his index finger, then unlocks the device with an artificial print lifted from a glass, then applied to a piece of latex. This shows that with some CSI skills, anyone can unlock your locked iPhone. 

My first thought was that this is embarrassing for mankind. Some people are so bent on breaking the rules that the first thing they do with their brand new $600 phone is to hack into it. On the other hand, after some thought, I realized that this is beneficial to iPhone users. People who have very sensitive information on their phone need to know that it is possible to break into it. They can't rely on TouchID to protect them.

Even though it is possible, it's not easy. It takes materials, knowledge, and preparation. Unless you are currently a character of a spy novel, you shouldn't have to worry.