(EMAILWIRE.COM, March 06, 2014 ) Grass Valley, California -- Since the hack of Target and other major stores last December, which compromised the personal information of 70 million people, consumers are more aware of their vulnerability to identity theft via credit cards.
Most people understand how easy it is to copy the current magnetic stripe cards. Are chip-based cards a safer alternative?
There are two types of chip-based cards, and each has some drawbacks.
Currently in use are the RFID (radio frequency identification) cards. These cards have ![]()
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How to protect your credit cards from theft.
a chip which broadcasts the personal information (account numbers, etc.) via radio frequency, which is picked up by a scanner, or reader terminal, at the point of purchase and records the
transaction.
RFID cards are not new. They have been in use for some time in security places such as private offices, laboratory admission, as pay passes for toll roads and subways, for hospital patient identification, drivers licenses and passports to name a few.
In the retail world the main goal for their use is to facilitate purchases. Check out lines would move much faster, customers would not need to swipe and sign, nor show further identification or their signature.
The major drawback to RFID cards is their vulnerability to being illegally scanned unless they're protected by some type of blocking product. Cards that are protected by encasement in an aluminum or steel case can not be scanned. RFID chipped cards not so protected can be scanned through a pocket, purse, or wallet.
The question being asked now is whether the new chip-based credit cards that are supposed to become available in late 2015 are the same as RFID (radio frequency identification) cards?
They are not.
This second type of chip -based card requires that it physically touch a card reader in order to transfer data. Then you enter a PIN, (personal identification number). This is being called a "chip and PIN card".
The phase-in period for converting to the chip and pin card readers is likely to extend well beyond 2015. It seems apparent magnetic stripe card and/or radio frequency readers will continue to be used for some time to come.
As a result, the early chip and pin cards will have both a chip and a magnetic stripe that contain the same information. This will make the cards just as vulnerable to being copied as stripe-only cards are now.
Security experts are stating the best protected credit cards still are the ones encased in aluminum or steel.
About Wylins - Products For Living
The Wylins Company promotes products for living. It is their goal to have every item from Wyllns be sensible and useful, such as the RFID Credit Card Cases for Women, never gimmicky or faddish. These aluminum cases are designed to protect the owner from credit card identity theft.
jessa
714-309-1116
media@wylins.com
Source: EmailWire.Com![]()
Most people understand how easy it is to copy the current magnetic stripe cards. Are chip-based cards a safer alternative?
There are two types of chip-based cards, and each has some drawbacks.
Currently in use are the RFID (radio frequency identification) cards. These cards have
How to protect your credit cards from theft.
transaction.
RFID cards are not new. They have been in use for some time in security places such as private offices, laboratory admission, as pay passes for toll roads and subways, for hospital patient identification, drivers licenses and passports to name a few.
In the retail world the main goal for their use is to facilitate purchases. Check out lines would move much faster, customers would not need to swipe and sign, nor show further identification or their signature.
The major drawback to RFID cards is their vulnerability to being illegally scanned unless they're protected by some type of blocking product. Cards that are protected by encasement in an aluminum or steel case can not be scanned. RFID chipped cards not so protected can be scanned through a pocket, purse, or wallet.
The question being asked now is whether the new chip-based credit cards that are supposed to become available in late 2015 are the same as RFID (radio frequency identification) cards?
They are not.
This second type of chip -based card requires that it physically touch a card reader in order to transfer data. Then you enter a PIN, (personal identification number). This is being called a "chip and PIN card".
The phase-in period for converting to the chip and pin card readers is likely to extend well beyond 2015. It seems apparent magnetic stripe card and/or radio frequency readers will continue to be used for some time to come.
As a result, the early chip and pin cards will have both a chip and a magnetic stripe that contain the same information. This will make the cards just as vulnerable to being copied as stripe-only cards are now.
Security experts are stating the best protected credit cards still are the ones encased in aluminum or steel.
About Wylins - Products For Living
The Wylins Company promotes products for living. It is their goal to have every item from Wyllns be sensible and useful, such as the RFID Credit Card Cases for Women, never gimmicky or faddish. These aluminum cases are designed to protect the owner from credit card identity theft.
jessa
714-309-1116
media@wylins.com
Source: EmailWire.Com