Unknown Features of Fingerprint Scanners on Smartphones

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By Miro Stoichev

These days, a lot of contemporary smartphones come equipped with a fingerprint scanner. Still, the majority of users only use this feature to quickly unlock their screens. Let’s discuss the less obvious fingerprint scanner features in this article that are important to note.

There are numerous indisputable benefits to using a fingerprint instead of a password or graphical key for unlocking. A fingerprint can hardly be forgotten, lost, stolen, or faked, to start with. Furthermore, in the event of your absence, nobody will be able to use the fingerprint. This isn’t true for the password, though, since anyone can use the smartphone if it is revealed.

Using graphic keys also makes things less clear. According to studies, people typically use the most basic graphical keys, which are typically similar to alphabetic letters. Furthermore, this kind of lock is most likely the most hacker-friendly given that over 50% of users begin entering a graphical key from the upper left corner.

Furthermore, you will unavoidably tilt the smartphone slightly to one side when entering the graphical key. Attackers with gyroscopic sensors have learned to unravel the pattern nearly 100% of the time because of these deviations.

Thus, the fingerprint scanner is without a doubt your smartphone’s best line of defense. However, what other purposes can a fingerprint scanner on a smartphone serve?

How to use gestures on your phone

How to use gestures on your phone

By configuring the desired actions to be taps or swipes on the scanner, you can use a fingerprint scanner to unlock the screen of your smartphone and operate it virtually in the same manner as you would a laptop’s touchpad.

Certain smartphone brands, like Xiaomi or Google Pixel, for instance, come with an integrated function that allows you to designate particular actions for the scanner. For owners of smartphones made by other manufacturers, we advise utilizing specialized Play Market apps.

Among them is the Fingerprint Quick Action app, which lets you designate up to three of the twelve possible actions—swipe, double tap, or single touch—for the fingerprint scanner at the same time.

Remotely unlock your computer

Remotely unlock your computer

If your computer requires a password to log in, you can unlock it remotely using your fingerprint. You can use your smartphone’s built-in fingerprint sensor to set up remote unlock so you don’t have to enter a complex combination each time you log in. After that, all you’ll have to do to unlock your computer is tap the fingerprint reader on your smartphone.

You must install a specific client program on your computer in addition to the Remote Fingerprint Unlock application from the Play Market store in order to enable the feature of unlocking your computer with your fingerprint. You then have to pair them up.

Lock your computer as normal and then use your smartphone to access the Remote Fingerprint Unlock app to begin the pairing process. To find the computer in your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth network, select the “Scan” tab and swipe up and down.

Next, you have to open a new account in the app and link it to the computer that was identified. Once the account has been linked, select “Unlock” and place your finger on the smartphone’s scanner. Right away, the computer will be unlocked.

Using your fingerprint scanner to lock specific apps

Using your fingerprint scanner to lock specific apps

In addition to being used for unlocking smartphones, the fingerprint scanner can also be used to secure individual apps. For example, you can lock payment apps, private images in the gallery, or password manager apps with this added security.

Download the AppLock Pro app from the Play Market to get started.

Ascertain the pin code and the response to the enigma question.

Give AppLock Pro permission to use over other apps and to access statistics by going into the settings on your phone.

Choose the applications to which you wish to apply the fingerprint scanner lock after that.

Taking selfies with the fingerprint scanner

Using your fingerprint to take pictures with your scanner is another helpful discovery. Owners of smartphones that have a fingerprint scanner on the rear of the device will particularly appreciate this feature.

You can program the shutter to activate when your finger touches the fingerprint scanner with the Fingerprint Camera shutter app. Install Fingerprint Camera Shutter from the Play Market store, then go to your smartphone’s settings and allow the app to view and control your screen.

The Fingerprint Camera shutter app you wish to pair with must then be chosen. Subsequently, you will be prompted to align the fingerprint sensor’s trigger button position with the shutter button on your device through the Camera app.

That is all! No more grabbing for the on-screen button or taking pictures with your other hand. To capture stylish selfies, all you have to do is press the fingerprint reader.

In summary

Since even the most affordable smartphones now come with a fingerprint scanner, fingerprint scanners are no longer considered unusual. Due to its ability to save time and dependable safeguard the smartphone from unwanted access, the fingerprint scanner’s appeal to users is clear. You now know that the fingerprint scanner on your phone can be used for purposes other than security. Hopefully it was helpful!

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