Cards with chips and cards with magnetic stripes have been almost forgotten with the implementation of the NFC technology (Near Field Communication) on phones. This payment system allows you to bring your mobile phone closer to the card machine to pay for a purchase, however, this tool may not be completely secure because Cybercriminals take advantage of NFC technology for access the victims’ bank accounts.
Therefore, from the OCU (Organization of Consumers and Users) explain How to make a secure payment using your mobile phone.
I pay with my mobile, is it safe?
The use of mobile phones to make payments generates distrust in some users, especially due to doubts about the security of this technology. According to the OCU, this belief is motivated by the spread of rumors and fake news on the internetwhich tend to exaggerate the risks, such as the supposed easy theft of money from contactless cards.
However, paying with your mobile phone can be even safer than paying with such a card. This is because to complete a payment, it is necessary to unlock the device screen, which involves know the PINthe unlock pattern, or use more advanced technologies such as identification by fingerprint either facial recognitionwhich offer an additional level of security.
Additionally, users are protected against fraudulent use. According to current regulations, the responsibility of the owner in cases of fraud before notifying the theft or loss is limited to a maximum of 50 euros. If you lose your cell phone or it is stolen, it is crucial act immediately and quickly contact your financial institution to inform them and request the blocking of associated payment methods.
How to pay securely with your mobile
A secure payment system must comply with the European Payment Services Directive, that is, it must force the user to verify their identity with at least two elements of authentication. In addition, the OCU lists some Measures to take into account to make contactless payments safer:
- Keep the operating system updated.
- Install an antivirus.
- Avoid connecting through public or unsecured networks, those that do not require an access password.
- Do not leave the phone visible to other people when not in use.
- Deactivate the system and remove the cards if it is given to a third party, for example, for repair.
- Make sure you have a secure screen lock with a strong PIN, complicated pattern, fingerprint…
- Have the SIM card locked with a PIN and prevent the number from being the same as the password used to unlock the screen.
