Those concerned about their fingerprints being uploaded to the cloud need not worry when it comes to Google’s recently announced Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X.
According to Google, data from the 6P and 5X’s “Nexus Imprint” fingerprint scanning technology will only be stored locally on the device.
During a recent Reddit AMA, the team behind the Nexus 6P and 5X discussed the new device’s Nexus Imprint feature in relation to privacy.
Fingerprint features are securely encrypted on the device, and processed in the secure Trustzone protected area of memory. The Android 6.0 fingerprint APIs do not provide any access to the fingerprint material to apps. Fingerprint features never leave the device and are not shared with Google (so for example if you setup a new phone, you need to re-enroll your fingers). If your phone is ever lost or stolen you can easily find, lock, and erase your phone using Android Device Manager.
Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint technology, used to access a variety of more recent iOS devices, is also stored locally on the smartphone, and not on Apple’s servers or iCloud. Samsung also says that it doesn’t store fingerprint devices in the cloud. However, both Samsung and Apple allow third-party developers to take advantage of user fingerprints.
Related link: The team behind the Nexus 5X and 6P shed light on Google’s new devices
[source]Phandroid[/source]
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