Android security hack could steal your fingerprints

The latest security flaw in Android could leave your fingerprints and touch to pay details open to hackers, according to reports

Fingerprint ID readers on smartphones are undoubtedly a great innovation - making it easier than ever to lock your phone so that no one else can open it. Apple has also popularised the Apple Pay system which lets you purchase items with a touch, even without unlocking your phone.

That functionality is starting to become more popular on Android handsets as well, including the Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6 and the Huawei Ascend Mate 7. Now it seems the data in your digits might not be so secure after all.

The Black Hat Security Conference is currently running in Las Vegas. It's an multi-annual event which brings together industry leaders to give them the latest information and training about potential security risks. They have been running events for 16 years with a variety of speakers helping to keep you safe online.

The latest news out of the Las Vegas event comes from researchers Tao Wei and Yulong Zhang who demonstrated that a flaw in the current Android fingerprint frameworks which could allow hackers to access payments without your permission or even harvest the vital and unique authorisation stored in the whorls of your fingertips.

This exploit isn't thought to effect Apple users but comes about because the Android system leaves the fingerprint scanner open to potential hacks. And a fingerprint isn't like a password, you can't simply change it to remove a security threat. That print is an inescapable part of your own body, so once it has been stolen your secure data could be accessed no matter what device you're using.

The companies effected are taking steps to up their security but this kind of theft is going to become increasingly prevelant as we use biometrics to keep our digital lives secure in the future.