New Patent Suggests Apple May Enhance Touch ID Security

Apple may be planning to enhance the capabilities of Touch ID for additional security, according to a patent recently published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (via AppleInsider). The patent itself was created by Dale R. Setlak, co-founder of AuthenTec, the company Apple acquired for $356 million back in 2012 to help create Touch ID itself.

Setlak's patent, which dates from June of 2013, describes a process in which a user would use both the Touch ID and their fingertips to interact with a rotating dial of sorts (similar to a safe) or an on-screen pattern reminiscent of one of Google's passcode options for Android.

There's already a hint of this process in the "Reachability" mode introduced for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which allows users to tap the home button lightly to bring elements of the screen into closer reach for a single hand.

The latest patent might seem kind of overkill considering that Touch ID already works easily enough as it is, but Apple will likely make it available for users who want an extra level of security with their devices (much as is the case with its two-step authentication process).

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