Fingerprint Android and iOS devices use fingerprint or other biometric sensors to authenticate users and provide an alternative to passwords for secure access. This technology is becoming increasingly popular, with Apple introducing Face ID on their iPhone X in 2017 and many Android manufacturers including fingerprint sensor hardware in their latest edge-to-edge displays.

In the past, device fingerprinting was primarily used by websites to track users across different sites and apps. It worked by identifying unique hardware identifiers such as the Google ID, the Apple ID, the IMEI number, or notification tokens to create a digital identity linked to the user’s real name and location. This type of identification was very precise and often exposed personal information without permission, leading to serious privacy concerns.

Fingerprint Android and iOS Devices Across Sessions

App fingerprinting works differently and is less transparent to the user. It’s performed by a third-party, which can gather data from multiple apps within the same sandbox, such as recent purchases, search terms or the device location. The combination of all these identifiers creates a very accurate profile and exposes the user’s true identity. It’s even possible to link this profile across devices by correlating the fingerprint with other app data.

Developing apps with biometric authentication capabilities requires careful consideration of the security architecture and implementation process. In addition, ensuring that the user experience is seamless across different platforms and OS versions adds complexity. A well-designed authentication system improves security while reducing the risk of phishing attacks and other vulnerabilities. It’s also critical to test the functionality of the fingerprinting technology and verify that it operates properly in various environments such as wet or dirty fingers.

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