Researcher finds flaw in Samsung fingerprint check

Berlin - A Berlin-based researcher says he has managed to fool the fingerprint-based security system on Samsung's new Galaxy S5 smartphone using wood glue and a picture of the original print.

Ben Schlabs, an American who works for German firm Security Research Labs GmbH, says the trick is identical to the one hackers used to unlock Apple's iPhone 5 last year.

The flaw is potentially more serious than in the iPhone, because Schlabs says he was also able to trick the electronic payment app PayPal that uses Samsung's authentication system into accepting the fake fingerprint.

Schlabs says users concerned about security can choose to use a strong password instead of the convenient but flawed fingerprint system.

A spokesperson for Samsung in Germany wasn't immediately able to comment on the issue on Thursday.