Results from our independent survey, looking into the use of mobile payments among British consumers, showed that a fair number of people don’t use mobile payment options due to concerns over security. This links to a general distrust of mobile security, as it’s not yet a fully-established options for a lot of consumers. But with mobile payments expected to account for half of online payments by 2021, and it being used more and more for contactless payments, it’s important for people to understand how to improve their security in order to feel confident in making mobile payments.
Let’s look at some easy-to-implement safety tips that could put your mind at ease:
Ensure your operating system is up to date
For those that use credit or debit cards loaded on to a smartphone – such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay – there’s already several layers of security to ensure that your transactions are secure. For example, the card is locked behind a fingerprint or passcode, and your payment details are constantly obscured. Google have also introduced a further security measure called SafetyNet, which prevents your phone from making mobile payments to unauthorised applications or vendors.
However, for these security measures to work effectively, and to ensure that your details are always safe, it’s important to keep your smartphone updated. Most updates include security improvements and bug fixes, some of which will be relevant to your chosen payment method. This is a fairly stress-free way to ensure you’re as protect as possible, especially if you’re a frequent user of mobile payments.
Check for HTTPS online
One of the most popular ways to make purchases online is via a mobile device – in 2018, mobile purchases made up 40% of the total revenue of online sales. However, when using the internet to make purchases, regardless of whether you’re on a mobile or PC, you’re vulnerable to the same dangers, including hacks and scams.
A simple indication of the security of a site is to check for the HTTPS tag immediately before the web address, which usually indicates that the URL is secure, and that any information shared between your device and the server remains that way, such as credit/debit card information or personal data. Another quick way of telling whether a website is secure enough to make transactions on is to look for the padlock symbol next to the URL. However, it’s not foolproof as, while the URL might be secure, it doesn’t necessarily mean the site is safe to make a purchase or payment on, as fraudulent sites can also carry the HTTPS tag, so be sure to bear this in mind.
We’d also recommend typing in a URL rather than simply clicking on one provided in an email, website or social media post as these can sometimes direct people to fraudulent sites.
Finally, it’s always a good idea to watch out for the detail. Subtle but deliberate misspells are a common technique used by fraudsters to dupe innocent people into thinking they’re using the authentic site.
Fortunately, a lot of online stores are creating mobile counterparts, or at the very least design their sites with mobile in mind, so you’re unlikely to find a site that isn’t secure.
Don’t connect to public Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
When you’re making mobile payments on the high street, it’s important to avoid public Wi-Fi connections – for example, those offered by shopping centres, retailers, or coffee shops. Generally, these are less secure than personal Wi-Fi connections or 4G as they rely on multiple phones being connected at any one time. This is an easy way for data thieves to gain access to your device without your knowledge, using the public Wi-Fi. If you’re worried amount keeping your payment information safe, it’s imperative that you keep automatic connects off whilst out shopping.
The same can also be said for Bluetooth connections. If you leave you Bluetooth on, which will automatically pick up compatible devices, it offers an opportunity for your security to be breached and for hackers to steal your information. While you can rely on your in-built mobile security to stop them from gaining direct access to your payment information, it’s not worth taking that chance!
Make purchases only on apps you trust
One of the most popular forms of mobile payment is the purchase of apps and other entertainment. Our survey showed that over 10% of people used mobile payments for this. While the overwhelming majority of smartphone apps are worthwhile and functional, there are some that exit simply to take your money and offer no service whatsoever. That’s why it’s important to only buy or spend money on apps that you trust. Generally, Apple and Google do a good job of cracking down on fraudulent apps, but some other app stores don’t have the same level of protection, so be careful where you choose to download from.
A good way of telling if an app is trustworthy is to read the reviews. If it has a lot of negative reviews which make you wonder how legitimate the product is, it’s probably not a good idea to buy it. Similarly, if there’s a lot of obviously fake reviews and no negative ones at all, that might also be a sign that not everything is as it seems. The bottom line is, if it doesn’t seem right, don’t make the transaction.
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