Hackers could steal fingerprints from social media photos, but risk is low

Recent social media discussions have sparked concern that hackers might use artificial intelligence to extract fingerprints from photographs, especially those where individuals display hand gestures like a peace sign or hold their hands close to the camera. Experts acknowledge the technical feasibility of such a feat but emphasize that the risk to the average person remains extremely low.

The discussion gained traction after a report in China demonstrated how high-resolution, close-up photos could be used to isolate fingerprint details. Theoretically, a reconstructed fingerprint could then be used to access devices or systems employing biometric authentication. However, Justin Cappos, a cybersecurity professor at New York University, likens the probability of this happening to being struck by a car, suggesting it's highly unlikely.

Past incidents, though rare, do exist. In 2014, a hacker claimed to reconstruct the fingerprint of then-German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen from public event photos. Similarly, researchers at Kraken were able to create a fingerprint copy using a photograph, Photoshop, a printer, and glue. Even with a reconstructed fingerprint, exploiting it typically requires physical access to the device or scanner, such as a laptop or security system.

Vyas Sekar, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, points out that such an attack would demand considerable effort and would most likely target individuals with access to sensitive data or high-security facilities. For most users, phishing scams, fake emails, and malicious links pose a far greater threat. Cappos concludes that while caution is warranted when sharing high-resolution images online, there's no need for average users to stop posting selfies or hiding their hands out of fear of fingerprint theft.