If you're thinking of using fingerprint readers to secure more and more gadgets, then you'd better be extremely careful with the pictures you take. According to Japanese researchers, a thief can reproduce our fingerprints just by analyzing the pictures in which they are visible, but only if they are of high resolution.
Considering that most smart phones are capable of recording high-resolution photos at the moment, reproducing fingerprints can prove to be extremely easy. In this idea, a thief can reproduce that fingerprint by any kind of method and can use it to access data from our terminals, for example.
Researchers in Japan are trying to educate consumers and convince them to try not to take high-resolution pictures of their hands in order to prevent fingerprints from being reproduced. They advise people not to expose their fingers in any kind of pictures they take, but it is unlikely that people will listen to their instructions.
In the tests done by the Japanese researchers, the reproduction of the fingerprints was possible, even if the picture was taken 3 meters away from the subject. In these situations, probably many of the pictures that exist now can be a danger to the owners of gadgets that unlock with the fingerprint, so we will see more and more ways to take advantage of them.
"Just by casually making a peace sign in front of a camera, fingerprints can become widely available. ...fingerprint data can be recreated if fingerprints are in focus with strong lighting in a picture."
