Skip to main content

Galaxy S5 fingerprint scanner has been hacked, PayPal users at risk

When we reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S5, we thought the fingerprint scanner worked well enough, though we didn’t have too much fun swiping downward. Still, we thought it was great that the fingerprint scanner lets you make payments through PayPal. However, a recent hack showed that the GS5’s biometric scanner has the same problem as the iPhone 5S: it’s hackable.

Security Research Labs (SRLabs) recently uploaded a YouTube video, showing that the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S5 can be easily spoofed. By using a lifted fingerprint, it was able to make a wood glue spoof made from a mold that the firm also used to trick the iPhone 5S’ fingerprint scanner, Touch ID.

Recommended Videos

However, there are differences in how both fingerprint scanners are utilized. Touch ID requires you to enter your password one time before you can use your fingerprint as a way to unlock the phone. In addition, every time you reboot the iPhone 5S, you must enter your password once. There are no such steps with the Galaxy S5, even after rebooting the phone.

What’s equally alarming is, even after a reboot, you don’t need a password to use PayPal and make any payments through the service. So long as the app was configured to allow for fingerprint authentication, you’re good to go.

You can watch how SRLabs accomplished the hack below.

Williams Pelegrin
Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…
Does the Samsung Galaxy S25 come with a charger in the box?
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S25.

Samsung's latest flagships have landed! The Samsung Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra look virtually identical to last year's Galaxy S24 range, but offer an array of small-yet-mighty under-the-hood improvements to ensure they're well worth the asking price.

The S25 and S25 Plus boast a 4,000mAh battery and 4,900mAh battery, respectively, while the S25 Ultra is powered by a beefy 5,000mAh battery.

Read more
A familiar Samsung app has been replaced on the Galaxy S25
The Google Messages app on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

After you’ve unwrapped and set up your new Galaxy S25, you may notice an app previously always installed on Samsung phones has disappeared. Samsung has stopped pre-installing its own Samsung Messages app, and handed cellular messaging duties solely over to Google. On the Galaxy S25, Google Messages is the only pre-installed, and therefore default, messaging app.

Samsung confirmed the action in an email to Android Authority, stating:

Read more
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus: what’s different?
Samsung Galaxy S25 colors

Like previous years, the early 2025 Samsung flagship phone series contains three models, the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The main difference between the three is size. While the Ultra goes all out with specs and extra features like the S Pen and Gorilla Armor 2 glass, the difference is minimized when comparing the more affordable duo.

You might think the differences between these two comes down to different display and battery sizes. But as you go into the details, you'll notice more differences than those immediately visible on the spec sheet or the box. Here's what you need to know about the two devices.
Galaxy S25 vs. S25 Plus: specs

Read more