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RFID MasterCard

Posted by michael on from the swipe-on-swipe-off dept.

starburst writes "MasterCard introduces a RFID MasterCard called PayPass in Orlando Florida. They tout the convenience of no more swiping or giving your card to cashiers. They claim the card has to be within an inch of the reader to be read -- how long till criminals are walking the malls, or next to you in line with portable readers getting your card information?"

5 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. Photo and PIN on Cash Card / Credit Card?? by justinmc · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If my photo had to be on my Credit Card and also I had to enter a Secret PIN to use it - would that stop a load of Credit Card Fraud??
    If I am at the store, they compare my photo to me?
    However I guess some people would not like carrying an ID card (which it could make the Credit Card?) around with them??
    Just my two bits (0&1)

    1. Re:Photo and PIN on Cash Card / Credit Card?? by Elvisisdead · · Score: 4, Interesting

      In my case, on the back of every card I carry is emblazoned, "ASK FOR ID !!!" in red sharpie-induced print. Someone asks me for ID maybe 20% of the time. The percentage jumps to around 50% for those who actually look at the back of the card.

      It doesn't matter which technology is used (a magnetic strip or an RFID tag). Without authentication of a valid user, the situation won't improve.

      --

      "Want in one hand and spit in the other and see which one fills up first." - My Dad
    2. Re:Photo and PIN on Cash Card / Credit Card?? by dbc · · Score: 4, Interesting

      20% That high??? You are lucky. One friend of mine who for a time ran his own company doing very high priced ECAD software had this experience: He was entertaining clients at a pricey eatery -- the waiter quietly calls him asside and says: "Excuse me sir, but the name on this card does not match your signature" -- Indeed, it did not. The name was someone elses entirely -- not even close. (He settled the bill on another card without embarassment.) Turns out, about a month earlier, a salesmen and he had gotten their cards swapped by a waiter at some other resturant. They both went for *a solid month* of sales call T&E before this waiter caught it. They got to be well aquainted over the next two months as they sorted out their bills.

  2. How secure? by jayminer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I think that's a make up on the current insecure credit card framework, which is hopeless. Credit cards are so propagated through the world, and it would be very costly (and disastrous) to build a brand new security mechanism so anyone can understand why MasterCard does such kind of show-off, without doing actually anything.

    This quote is worth any comment:

    "PayPass is guaranteed as safe and secure as all MasterCards."

    Oh, then that gave me a very strong and confident feeling. (Read this as: secure my ass)

  3. how long... by moviepig.com · · Score: 4, Interesting
    ...how long till criminals ... with portable readers [get] your card information?

    How long till plainclothes cops walk the malls carrying detectors that sense the self-incriminating probe of the would-be pickpacket?

    --
    Seeing bad movies only encourages them. Watch responsibly