When you pay with your phone, these are the risks you'll face... Advice on how to keep your card safe
Contactless payments have become one of the most common payment methods in the world. These days, it is common to see people paying using their mobile phones in most stores, as Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, unlike traditional methods, does not require inserting the card into the card reader; it is enough to bring the device a few centimeters close to complete the transaction.
However, despite its speed and ease, cybersecurity firm ESET warns that contactless payments are not entirely secure, as cybercriminals can exploit NFC technology to access bank accounts. Therefore, the company recommends implementing two-factor authentication, requiring facial recognition or fingerprint scanning to confirm any payment transaction.
Furthermore, PaynoPain recently urged users to adopt strong authentication protocols and verify security certificates to avoid unexpected fees. It also emphasized the importance of using secure payment gateways with robust encryption and authentication protocols.
On the other hand, the company also advises constantly checking e-commerce platforms to ensure that sites have valid certificates and use the HTTPS protocol; setting payment limits; and activating instant bank notifications to respond immediately to any suspicious activity.
PaynoPain also warns of the risks of using public Wi-Fi networks for payments and recommends using reliable VPNs and mobile data to reduce exposure to potential digital incidents.
How to pay securely using your mobile phone
Some of the measures that should be considered to ensure the security of contactless payments include:
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology: It forms a protective barrier against electronic fraud attacks and is a technology used to steal card information during the payment process.
- Set a maximum spending limit for contactless payments.
- Avoid using smartwatches for payments: Activating this feature may cause potential problems, depending on the watch model.
- Activate two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized payments.
By following these tips, users can avoid one of the most common forms of fraud: electronic fraud. In this type of fraud, cybercriminals use an electronic device called a "snapback device," which they place in the card slot of ATMs to collect personal and financial data when users insert their cards.