cell phone app can read your cedit card

[onoway]

On the CBC today there was a story about an app, (they used it on a samsung phone) readilly available to anyone, that can read credit cards through wallets and fabric if they are within a short distance,( such as in a checkout line)? It could also read such things as passport information and some new driver's licences which have that sort of chip in them. They said they contacted Google, who apparently didn't think it would be a problem.

 

Visa and Mastercard told them that they have redesigned the safety features in their cards to prevent this, but a) the CBC people supposedly were successful in their trials and b) those upgraded designs don't apply to interact cards.

 

The CBC suggested that people keep credit cards and such in a protective sleeve but did NOT say what sort of material that might be made up of, which wasn't exactly helpful.

 

Anyone know anything more about this?

 

I suppose it might help in the redistribution of wealth, at least for a while, perhaps this should have been in the inequality thread. Somebody has been a busy entrepeneur to develop such an app :ph34r:

[Vampyr]

Anyone know anything more about this?

 

Try a travel shop. There are RFID-proof passport holders that can also hold your credit cards. This would work I think.

[jwccsllc]

On the CBC today there was a story about an app, (they used it on a samsung phone) readilly available to anyone, that can read credit cards through wallets and fabric if they are within a short distance,( such as in a checkout line)? It could also read such things as passport information and some new driver's licences which have that sort of chip in them. They said they contacted Google, who apparently didn't think it would be a problem.

 

Visa and Mastercard told them that they have redesigned the safety features in their cards to prevent this, but a) the CBC people supposedly were successful in their trials and b) those upgraded designs don't apply to interact cards.

 

The CBC suggested that people keep credit cards and such in a protective sleeve but did NOT say what sort of material that might be made up of, which wasn't exactly helpful.

 

Anyone know anything more about this?

 

I suppose it might help in the redistribution of wealth, at least for a while, perhaps this should have been in the inequality thread. Somebody has been a busy entrepeneur to develop such an app :ph34r:

 

There are several sources for RFID protectors for credit cards and passwords. My wife likes this one. I got this passport wallet from Amazon which has 5 slots for credit cards.

[onoway]

There are several sources for RFID protectors for credit cards and passwords. My wife likes this one. I got this passport wallet from Amazon which has 5 slots for credit cards.

thanks Apparently it's identity theft which is more of a concern than money issues as credit card charges are usually taken care of by the banks, but passports, driver's licenses or other chipped i.d. is another story. It's getting to be a crazy world.

[Antrax]

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/identity/pickpocket.asp

[blackshoe]

"Any time a society becomes so complex as to require ID cards, it is time to leave. The nice thing about space travel is that it makes it possible to leave." - Robert A. Heinlein

"Once you reach low earth orbit, you're halfway to anywhere in the solar system." - Robert A. Heinlein

[barmar]

"Any time a society becomes so complex as to require ID cards, it is time to leave. The nice thing about space travel is that it makes it possible to leave." - Robert A. Heinlein

"Once you reach low earth orbit, you're halfway to anywhere in the solar system." - Robert A. Heinlein

So are you signing up for the Mars getaway in the other thread?

[onoway]

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/identity/pickpocket.asp

 

A couple of things about this: 1) the Snopes link says that it is partially true and the date on that is 2009. There've been a lot of advances in computer technology since then. Apps were just beginning to get seriously underway about then. Smart phones can do a lot now that phones didn't or couldn't do then.

 

The second thing was that the CBC said that they tried it themselves and were successful in buying something with credit card info they had read in a co worker's pocket in their wallet, it wasn't just a rumor.

[blackshoe]

So are you signing up for the Mars getaway in the other thread?

Tempting as it is, no.

[Antrax]

A couple of things about this: 1) the Snopes link says that it is partially true and the date on that is 2009.

I wasn't trying to say "this is bullshit", snopes is useful as an information source beyond discrediting false rumours.

[mike777]

i have never owned a cell phone and your main important point is for us non owners?

 

 

I ask this how much is this point worth..... how much should I spend...???

 

Is zero an answer?

 

please don't bother with a confusing answer or tell me it is complicated. Iknow that

[onoway]

i have never owned a cell phone and your main important point is for us non owners?

 

 

I ask this how much is this point worth..... how much should I spend...???

 

Is zero an answer?

 

please don't bother with a confusing answer or tell me it is complicated. Iknow that

It has nothing to do with you owning a cell phone or not. It has to do with some other people who DO own smartphones being able to get your credit card and other information from cards safely tucked away in the wallet in your pocket, while they are still standing possibly a few feet away.

 

if you have concerns about this then both Vampyr and jwccslic had suggestions about how to prevent anyone from being able to do this with your info.