When wallets are buried in purses, the easiest solution is sometimes pulling out a phone and accessing Apple Pay. However, people should be more aware of the dangers of using this easily accessible software, something I learned the hard way.
I was quite the travelling Bobcat last week when I decided to spend my hard-earned money on some concerts I wanted to attend. Naturally, I had to purchase some merchandise. There was a long line behind me, so I decided to use Apple Pay for a quick and easy transaction.
Two days later, I received a notification that there was suspicious activity on my debit card, and sure enough, there was a fraudulent charge on my account. After talking to someone from Chase Bank over the phone, I found out that by using Apple Pay, my card was hacked.
Over the last week, I have done a lot of reflecting about Apple Pay and its dangers. The popular payment method has over 500 million users, a testament to its convenience. However, people need to be more aware of the transaction method.
The dangers of Apple Pay are not widely known, as Apple advertises the contactless system as a way to make safer transactions. Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, conquers this in a statement posted by Apple on the 10th anniversary of Apple Pay.
“That’s why we’re always working to safeguard consumers, while also enabling banks to have industry-low levels of fraud for Apple Pay transactions,” Bailey wrote. “And it’s also why Apple Pay was designed to protect users’ highly sensitive personal and financial information, like their card number, which is never shared with merchants. Our customers trust that when they use Apple Pay anywhere, they can have the peace of mind that their payments are protected.”
Except that last part is not necessarily true; my information was not protected when I used Apple Pay. I am now more wary of every transaction I make using my Apple Wallet.
With Apple Pay, or any contactless transaction, payments do not require a PIN number to go through. Therefore, it could be a while before someone notices their account is compromised.
Skimming is also possible through contactless payment. Skimming is the act of stealing small amounts of money over time. It is more difficult than with traditional magnetic strip payment methods. The skimming device would have to be only a few centimeters away from the transaction to be able to get the data.
Phones infected with malware can also be vulnerable to fraudulent purchases and transactions. Phishing scams are also becoming increasingly widespread, so it’s important to be mindful of any links sent through emails or text messages. They could be a scam to trick people into providing sensitive data.
While there are dangers of using contactless payment methods such as Apple Pay, there is a reason Apple Pay has stayed so popular among iPhone users. The method is convenient, allowing people to double-click a button that accesses their Apple Wallet and allows them to use their card.
Apple pushes the convenience and security claims for Apple Pay extremely well using their website and by encouraging users to set up Apple Pay upon getting a new phone. However, the convenience is also the downfall for a lot of users, as sometimes people have an easier time spending money when it’s so convenient to access.
It’s important to be educated about these dangers to avoid a similar situation happening to you. Be wary of where money is going before making a transaction. Watch out for signs of malware and phishing scams that could put your data at risk. It may save some time and frustration to pay the old-fashioned way.
Sophia Anness is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Sophia about her column? Email/tweet them at sa425522@ohio.edu /@AnnessSoph0415.
