Security facts about the new iPhone’s fingerprint scanner

The new iPhone 5s, unveiled Tuesday and due out in stores later this month, includes a biometric fingertip scanner — a first for an Apple smartphone. Dubbed Touch ID, the feature can be used to unlock the device, as well as make purchases in the iTunes, iBooks and App stores.

As with virtually every other new feature in the iPhone 5s, this addition was predicted — which is to say, most likely leaked — well in advance of the smartphone’s well-hyped unveiling. Then again, Apple signaled its biometric intentions in July 2012 with its $356 million acquisition of fingerprint reader manufacturer Authentec.