Microsoft Windows Hello: Identical twins couldn't fool the facial recognition feature

Microsoft released Windows 10 last month and now reports claim that its facial recognition feature, Windows Hello, is pretty solid. Chris Griffith from The Australian wanted to know how effective the Windows hello feature is and hence, conducted a test that included six pairs of identical twins. In every case, Windows Hello didn’t allow the identical twin to log in, proving that the feature has been designed efficiently. Griffin conducted the test using Lenovo ThinkPad notebook via a webcam. One twin from each pair set up their account and configured Windows 10 to recognise their face. When the other twin tried to trick Windows Hello, it failed each time. This happened all six times, even if they tried to keep a similar hairstyle and wear spectacle and so on. “We worked with six sets of identical twins in Melbourne and Sydney. In each case, the procedure was the same. One twin would register a Windows account on the Lenovo Thinkpad and go through the face registration process. Users could enhance the camera’s accuracy by registering variations in appearance, such as wearing glasses,” the report adds. Microsoft claims that hackers cannot steal a user’s biometric information and the heat-sensing IR camera doesn’t allow access to anyone waving a photograph to trick the camera. The IR camera is reliable even in cases wherein users apply cosmetics, have facial hair or the lighting conditions vary. “The face recognition process involves a RealSense camera made by Intel, which sits embedded above the display. Three cameras — featuring an infra-red lens, a regular lens and a 3-D lens — use photographic analysis, heat detection and depth detection to decide who is at your computer display,” the report further adds. The biometric key is reportedly stored only on the device where facial recognition is established and so a hacker will have to steal the computer in order to even attempt authentication.