HTC stored user fingerprints as image file in unencrypted folder

Smartphone security called into question by researchers who discovered fingerprint data and sensors are often 'world readable' and easy to hack

Researchers from FireEye have found that data that could be used to clone a user's fingerprint was stored as an unencrypted "world readable" image file on HTC smartphones.

Four security researchers discovered that the image file, which is clear replica of a user's fingerprint, could be stolen by rogue apps or hackers.