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Smartphone Used To Scan Data From Chip-Enabled Credit Cards

Posted by Soulskill on from the insufficient-forethought dept.

An anonymous reader sends this news from the CBC: "Using a Samsung Galaxy SIII — one of the most popular smartphones available in Canada — and a free app downloaded from the Google Play store, CBC was able to read information such as a card number, expiry date and cardholder name simply holding the smartphone over a debit or credit card. And it could be done through wallets, pockets and purses. ... Although the NFC antennas in current smartphones need to be very close to a card in order to work — no farther than 10 cm — that could change with the next generation of Android smartphones. Legary said the Samsung Galaxy S4, set to go on sale this spring, might have a much more capable NFC antenna, which could not only read credit cards from a greater distance, but could also be able to read the chips embedded in enhanced driving licenses and passports."

8 of 236 comments (clear)

  1. Qiuck Everyone Panic!!! by gooman · · Score: 4, Funny

    This NFC technology must be stopped. Why should anyone's life be any more convenient than it already is.
    Why back in my day a phone was attached to the wall with wires. It made phone calls and only phone calls and we liked it.
    You youngsters and all your fancy gewgaws. Get off my lawn!

    --
    "Kittens give Morbo gas!"
    1. Re:Qiuck Everyone Panic!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Because swiping a card is ever so difficult. Our brittle wrists are just unable to cope with such massive stresses.

    2. Re:Qiuck Everyone Panic!!! by ArcadeMan · · Score: 4, Funny

      You may be joking, but some of us actually carry platinum cards in our wallets. Do you know how heavy platinum is?

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      Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
  2. Re:What are we going to call this? by GameboyRMH · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm pretty sure I proposed "cardsnarfing" many years ago, trying to find the post now...

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  3. Re:Almost useless by GameboyRMH · · Score: 5, Funny

    The credit card industry is staffed by morons that wouldn't know security from their own asshole. Really, it's that simple.

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  4. Re:Almost useless by DougOtto · · Score: 4, Funny

    Says the AC running a business from his/her own asshole.....

    --
    Solving Unix problems since 1989...
  5. Re:What are we going to call this? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 2, Funny

    the card needed to be in physical contact with the back of the phone to be read, despite their "4 inches" claim.

    Typical real-world vs. "guy" measurement. (right girls?)

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  6. Re:What are we going to call this? by wooferhound · · Score: 4, Funny

    WarGroping . . .

    --
    We are Dead Stars looking back Up at the Sky