Debit / Credit Cards with WIFI symbol - Security risk or not !!

[citizenB]

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/lLAFhTjsQHw%26sns=em

 

This video was sent to me by a friend. I have googled the issue and it would appear that it has been reported by the media last year.

 

Apparently in our fast moving society.. swipe and go appears to be the way Banks are moving forward. However, an American journalist has discovered this could cause many problems. He went to an airport with a consultant who was able to simply point something at their pocket/handbag and download all their credit/debit card details and then clone them onto his hotel key card. He was then able to purchase items by swiping his Hotel key card !!

[maroondevo52]

I've never used mine, asked in the co-op this morning and the shop assistant on the till didn't have a clue what I was talking about.

 

Yet it says on the 'bumf' from Barclaycard the co-op is one of the stores you can use.

[biggeorge]

You can purchase RFID blocking card protectors, I bought several when I saw this last year.

Very dangerous if you ask me, Was in post office and moved my wallet close to the machine

when getting out money and heard a beep, Had to ask the counter staff if I had just made a payment which

I luckily hadn't.

 

George

[citizenB]

It kind of makes a nonsense of this being a "quick" method, if you then have to unravel your card from miles of tin foil or remove it from another wallet !!

[winston73]

You can purchase RFID blocking card protectors, I bought several when I saw this last year.

Very dangerous if you ask me, Was in post office and moved my wallet close to the machine

when getting out money and heard a beep, Had to ask the counter staff if I had just made a payment which

I luckily hadn't.

 

George

 

 

I never thought about that ! Is this possible ?

[Klandestine]

These cards called contactless cards.

They do not use WiFi.

Contactless payments have limits on the amount of the transaction.

The same fraud liability rules apply.

 

As with anything, there is a risk. But you have to calculate that risk and weigh up the pros against the cons.

 

For me, contactless cards have saved me when travelling by bus when I forgot that the travel card on my Oyster had expired and when I didn't have any cash (TfL are phasing out cash anyway).

 

There are some tutorials on YouTube showing how to disable the contacless element on the card.

 

I never thought about that ! Is this possible ?

 

In summer last year this apparently happened to a number of M&S customers.

Story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22545804

[PaulW922]

Contactless cards only work when you put your card right next to the reader - I fail to see how a 'download' could be made as per this video.

[citizenB]

Contactless cards only work when you put your card right next to the reader - I fail to see how a 'download' could be made as per this video.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22545804

 

 

As it did actually happen according to M&S customers, then I suggest you ask them.. !

[PaulW922]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22545804

 

 

As it did actually happen according to M&S customers, then I suggest you ask them.. !

 

Actually it didn't. The customers affected had other cards in the same wallet and put them close to the readers when paying. Nobody in M&S had the data sucked out of their cards whilst walking through the store.