Should You Be Excited About ApplePay?

by Jessica Sommerfield · 6 comments

If you haven’t already heard, the newest feature from tech giant Apple is a cash- and card-less payment system aimed at revolutionizing the way you shop. It’s called ApplePay.

The concept itself isn’t new; other companies have been offering versions of a mobile wallet for several years. The fact that we haven’t seen a massive switch to pay-by-phone (a 21st century redefinition of the term payphone, perhaps?) shows that this type of feature either isn’t deemed useful or safe enough by the majority of smartphone users. Still, Apple hopes that by adding their own twist and reputation, iPhone customers will become mobile payers.

Here’s what you need to know about ApplePay:

How Does ApplePay Work?

Similar to other mobile wallet apps such as Soft Card, Amazon Wallet, Google Wallet, and Cellarix, ApplePay utilizes technology known as NFC (Near Field Communication). This means that instead of requiring your credit card number, registers with NFC-enabled components automatically detect the special chip in your phone and process your payment using “tokens.”

Unlike debit and credit card readers, which store numbers and are more susceptible to hackers, NFC technology protects your private information — because it never actually leaves your personal device.

Is ApplePay Secure?

The mere use of the advanced NFC payment system dramatically increases the security of ApplePay and other mobile wallet apps.

Currently, the biggest security risk with ApplePay is irresponsible users letting their phones get into the wrong hands. Knowing that your phone allows for cashless transactions and holds a wealth of your personal information should be enough motivation to keep it close and utilize password features. You should also maintain careful control of your account information on iCloud; as with any other site that stores personal information, it represents some risks to security.

Of course, with any new technology, it is only a matter of time before hackers discover and exploit its vulnerabilities. However, the newer the technology, the longer it takes them to work around the system, and the longer security technology experts have to create counter-protections. In any case, ApplePay is far more secure than your credit card.

Should You Switch to ApplePay?

Security experts insist mobile pay is a far safer way to protect your financial information. Hackers are becoming increasingly adept at overcoming advanced security protections used by the majority of retailers (as demonstrated by the Target and Home Depot breaches), and the United States is known for being lax about identity and anti-theft protocols with credit cards.

The biggest challenge to using ApplePay may be the lack of retailers who offer NFC technology — but if anyone can increase the usage of a mobile wallet app, it’s Apple.

Do you use any type of mobile pay application? Are you planning on using ApplePay?

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  • Alex @ CreditCardXpo says:

    One of the features that I like the most about Apple Pay is the ability to pay with my credit card without exposing my actual credit card number to the merchant. It’s easy, fast and most importantly secure!

  • David @ MoneyNing.com says:

    One feature I’d like banks to adopt is for an ATM to take card information through ApplePay. As I use my ATM card only for the extreme rare occasion that I need to go to an ATM, I can safely store the debit cards at home if this feature is implemented.

    • Ben Luthi says:

      I agree, that would be a great idea. But, of course, banks aren’t known for their innovation. Innovation costs too much money and they tend not to get the same type of ROI as, say, Apple would.

      • David @ MoneyNing.com says:

        Yeah you are right. Banks aren’t known for jumping on the tech bandwagon… But wellsfargo is saying that their cards will support ApplePay in October, so we will see!

  • Ben Luthi says:

    Based on my research, Apple Pay is much safer than using a credit card simply because no card information is actually transferred to the retailer. But, like you said, the biggest risk to Apple turning this into the iPhone of payments is the lack of retailer involvement. It’s simply too expensive to update, and a lot of the big retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and Target have already signed on with a competitor.

    • David @ MoneyNing.com says:

      Lack of commitment is always the problem. If it weren’t for no banks hoping on, we would have EMV chip enabled cards long ago in the US.

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