Apple X Hacked: Face Mapping vs Face Masking

Last Friday, Vietnamese security firm Bkav introduced a face mask that can trick the iPhone X’s Face ID. The hack involves a 3D printed plastic mask with makeup and simple paper cutouts. It looks like a terrifying abomination, but the $150 mask is able to fool the iPhone X’s expensive security feature. However, making the mask requires a five-minute manual scan of the iPhone owner’s face, so not any old Joe will be able to hack into your phone without the required technology. Click here to watch the video demonstration of the hack. (Source: Wired)

Don’t Toy with My Kids

UK consumer rights group Which? is calling for a ban on risky IoT (Internet of Things) toys. They have found several vulnerabilities in toys like Furby Connect and CloudPets. One toy maker stored the voice recordings of kids and parents using the toy on a public online database that didn’t require authentication. Which? also found that any stranger can illicitly pair his/her own device to a child’s toy through Bluetooth and speak with that child. Techy toys like these have their benefits, but security concerns are nothing to kid about. (Source: TechCrunch)

 

Filtered Snapchat Filters

Snapchat launched “audience filters,” a tool that allows advertisers to deliver filters to users based on their interests, time of day, age, gender, and other criteria besides geography. Quaker Oats is one of the first brands to leverage this new functionality. Their new filters target mothers and working professionals and deliver a different message depending on the time of day. Quaker built out this campaign with VaynerMedia, owned by social media pioneer and Socialnomics friend Gary Vaynerchuk. (Source: AdAge)