Bypassing Fingerprint Scanners Using Artifical Fingerprints

Although fingerprint scanning technology is a convenient, user-friendly method of securing many modern devices, it is not without flaws. In this paper, we discuss several methods for creating artificial fingerprints which are capable of bypassing modern capacitive and optical fingerprint sensors. First, we directly collect a mold and cast of a physical fingerprint using very low-cost materials. Second, we indirectly collect fingerprints from a surface, using them to create a 3D printed mold. Third, we use the indirect collection method but extrude fine details in the 3D mold to achieve better resolution (i.e. the indirect copy method). Experimental results are presented, showing the effectiveness of the three fingerprint fabrication techniques on the two types of sensors. We show that it is possible to bypass most sensors 80-100% of the time, and produce fake prints which are reusable for many months, using significantly lower cost, widely available tools than previously reported.