MasterCard To Distribute RFID Credit Cards

wellington writes "Reuters is reporting that MasterCard expects to have 4 million "pay pass" cards in circulation by year's end. These new cards will be equipped with a radio-frequency chip that allows customers to pay for purchases by simply waving their cards at readers posted near cash registers or gas pumps." The cards, previously covered on Slashdot, were announced earlier this year.

Comments

Lazy people

[pair-a-noyd]

will reap what they sow.

What a brilliant idea

[jandersen]

Just imagine having paid for things you don't know about just by standing in the wrong place ;-)

Convenience for Thieves

[LuYu]

I can just see the commercial now:

In the old days, stealing used to be difficult: You had to be quiet and stealthy or very tough. Nowadays, with the convenience of MasterCard(tm), you can steal from just about anybody as they pass down the street with just the simple press of a button. From across the street or from your living room, MasterCard(tm) allows you acquire credit card numbers with no access to the physical card. Truly, it has never been a better time to be a thief.

Or, as my friend put it:

rfid credit cards, $2, scanner for rfid chips, $1, easy theft, priceless

Is this really as stupid as it sounds? Or is it yet another plot to make biometrics appear more "safe"?