The survey attributed slow adoption of mobile payments to the following factors:
Safety of Mobile Payments
Pew found that age was the best predictor of mobile payment use, with younger Americans driving the adoption of such transactions. It remains to be seen if mobile payment providers like Apple or Android Pay can make their user experience more seamless than credit cards for the general population. While mobile payments have advanced security features, it’s still important to keep some tips in mind to ensure your financial information isn’t compromised.
Use Trusted Payment Platforms
If you’re going to add payment information to your smartphone, use the latest version of the software provided with your device or a verifiable and trusted third-party platform, like PayPal. Exercise caution when downloading software onto your device. Verify the following information before downloading an app onto your phone:
Learn about the vendor and/or developer. The app store will link directly to the vendor’s website, and you should examine the security/privacy policy, how information is collected and used, and what information is available to advertisers.Pay attention to how many times an app has been downloaded. These numbers can help you gauge trustworthiness.Reading reviews can help you learn if others have had a positive experience with the application. With that said, don’t base your download solely on reviews.Permissions give vendors access to certain parts of your phone. Messaging apps need access to your messages or contacts; photo apps may want permission to access your camera or social media accounts. Make sure the permissions are appropriate for the type of app you’re downloading and only download apps that respect your right to privacy.
Use Built in Security Features
You can use Android Device Manager to lock or locate a lost or stolen cell phone by going to android.com/devicemanager. You can do the same for an iPhone by going to https://www.icloud.com/ and for a Windows device by going to support.microsoft.com. In 2018, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Chairman made a special request of the Technological Advisory Council (TAC) to report on Mobile Device Theft Prevention. The TAC reported that all smartphones manufactured after July 2015 in the U.S. would offer (at no cost to consumers) a baseline tool enabling users to:
Remotely wipe the authorized user’s data (i.e., erase personal info that is added after purchase such as contacts, photos, and emails) from their smartphone in the event it is lost or stolen.Render the smartphone inoperable to an unauthorized user (e.g., locking the smartphone so it cannot be used without a password or PIN), except in accordance with FCC rules for 9-1-1 emergency communications, and if available, emergency numbers programmed by the authorized user (e.g., “phone home”).Prevent reactivation without the authorized user’s permission, including unauthorized factory reset attempts.Reverse inoperability if the smartphone is recovered by the authorized user and restore user data on the device.
Use Strong Password Protection
Make sure you’re not carrying an unlocked phone. Without any security on your phone, a thief can quickly and easily get into your phone and access whatever personal and financial information you have stored. A strong password is one of the best ways to protect your phone and the information stored on it. Don’t ignore some of the other security features offered on the latest phones. Features like facial recognition, iris scan, and fingerprint unlock can be even more secure than a password or PIN.
Store Credit Card Info for Secure Mobile Payment
If a thief gains access to your mobile payment information, it’s better for your credit card to be at risk than your debit card. This is because credit cards have much better fraud protection than debit cards. Most credit cards have zero-fraud liability policies that eliminate your risk for any unauthorized charges made to your credit card account. With debit cards, you have a greater possibility of being held liable for the money taken from your account. Even if your bank will clear up the charges, you don’t want to have to wait for them to sort it out.
Monitor Your Credit Card Account
Check your credit card transactions often, even if you have your phone in your possession and you’ve used all the payment safety precautions. Watching your account will allow you to detect any suspicious charges quickly and report unauthorized charges to your credit card issuer. If you suspect that your credit card information has been compromised, don’t hesitate to reach out to your bank and create new account details.
