Apple is often accused of being slow in introducing new features iOS, which Cupertino attributed to the desire to get the most out of the innovation. That is why many opportunities become available to mobile OS users only a few years after they appear on Android. More often than not, this turns out to be true, because execution Apple is invariably better and more functional than an example. An excellent example of this is the autocomplete function, which has been working with biometrics since time immemorial on iOS, unlike Android.
Autocomplete on Android will be safer
How Fingerprint Autofill Confirmation Works
Google has started integrating autocomplete functionality with biometric sensors on smartphones running Android. Surprisingly, in the past, in order to automatically insert a login and password into the authorization field, it was not necessary to enter an access password or, even more, to confirm the action by scanning a fingerprint, iris or face. This made the autocomplete technique used on Android completely insecure, putting users at risk of being hacked.
It's actually quite strange that Google took so long and didn't try to protect the autocomplete on Android in any way. Still, the overwhelming majority of third-party password managers have always offered mandatory confirmation.For example, LastPass, 1Password, Kaspersky Password Manager and many other solutions present on Google Play required the mandatory use of fingerprints or the input of a master password confirming the login and password.
Autocomplete biometrics
So far, the possibility of biometric confirmation of autofill is in testing mode, and therefore there is no way for an ordinary user to get access to it. However, the developers were able to activate the innovation on the Pixel 4 and try it out. As it turned out, autocomplete using biometrics works on all sites, without exception, allowing you to confirm the entrance with a face. However, it is not entirely clear whether this feature will be available on other smartphones, the owners of which only have fingerprint scanning available.
If you were lucky enough to get access to an update containing the autocomplete feature using biometrics, you will have to activate it yourself. Otherwise, filling in all the credentials for authorization in accounts will have to be done without confirmation.
How to enable fingerprint autofill confirmation
- To do this, go to 'Settings' and go to the 'System and Updates' section;
- Here open the 'Language and input' option, and then – 'Other input settings';
You need to manually enable biometrics during autocomplete
- In the window that opens, select the 'Autocomplete' item and activate biometric identification.
Most likely, autofill with biometrics confirmation will be available to all users in the near future. I think the distribution of this feature will begin as part of the Google Play Services update, which updates regardless of the underlying operating system. This allows Google to more quickly implement all kinds of innovations and fix bugs found. And autocomplete with confirmation is the most telling example of a function that should have been around a long time ago.