Comments on: When paying with plastic, why swipe? Just wave

Visa promises greater convenience with "contactless" payment cards, but will consumers and merchants bite?

[Dachi]

Where have I heard that before?

"We are fully confident that the platform we have developed is as secure as any form of Visa cards today."

The problem with stealing someone?s credit card is you have to physically remove it from someones presence. With a wireless system you could copy the cards "footprint" or charge it directly. The don't believe bypassing their "security measures" are trivial but others may not agree.

It is not like it would make them the first people to make that statement and be wrong.

[quasarstrider]

VISA is going bonkers

I really, really fear sending sensitive data over wireless. Especially my credit card details! Worse, they are saying it isn't password protected or anything! Are these people totally insane?

[Christopher Hall]

I don't fully understand this

Is it like the ExxonMobil Speedpass? I don't really get how this technology works.

[Jim Hubbard]

This sounds safe.......

No way to abuse this system.... "consumers need only wave credit and debit cards within a few inches of a reader to complete a purchase. And for purchases of less than $25, no signature is required."

How soon will theives place electronic card readers (add a little more power to reach out a little farther) and start hitting every passer-by on a street or in the mall?

[bobby_brady]

This is stupid

So the guy standing next to you might get charged for your grocerys if he stands too close to the reader? It's barely any more effort to swipe a card than wave it. This is a really stupid idea from Visa.

It sounds scary to me

Well, currently the credit card scammers have to phsycally obtain the cards in order to get the cards' information (not talking about Internet hacking here). If, one day, we need just wave the card in front of the scanner when we use the card to pay. Does it also means that if someone wants to collect credit information, he/she just need to carry a scanner to go pass people who have their credit cards in their wallets and in the packets? How many people carry more than just one card? How convenient it will make for those credit card scammers. One scan, all cards.

NO THANKS!

No way on Earth do I want anything to do with RFID technology in my credit cards! The next thing you know, thieves will be waving card scanners by your backside as you walk past them on the street trying to get your card data. This RFID stuff in ID's and cards is bad news - the next thing you know, I'll be buying a multi-layer tinfoil wallet that puts out a false signal just to keep from getting identity chumped!

[Michael Grogan]

That's easy...

With this thing thieves won't even have to gather credit card data. They'll just walk by you on the street and automatically debit your card for 25$ with a portable reader!