More and more Poles are giving up their traditional wallets. All thanks to the mobile facilities offered by banks. Transactions using a contactless card have quickly evolved into an even newer technology, whereby you can use your own phone to pay. But is this method of payment too risky?
These days, hardly anyone does not own a smartphone. For a long time now, it has no longer been used solely for contacting others. More and more people are therefore choosing to link their bank account to their phone, thus gaining the ability to pay with it.
It is a very convenient solution, thanks to which "money" is always with us - after all, without a smartphone, it's like without a hand! However, despite the improvements introduced by banks and assurances that this form of payment is as safe as possible, many people are not able to fully trust modern technologies. So is it safe to pay by phone?
Traditional or virtual wallet?
It is undeniable that the traditional way of payment remains very safe and secure. The money carried in a wallet is tangible and therefore, before we make or accept a payment, it must pass through our hands. There is usually no question of computational error or fraud.
On the practical side, however, it looks much worse. Small coins, which are difficult to count and accumulate in the wallet, can be a real nightmare for payers. If you use this form of money storage, you also have to reckon with the need to carry your wallet with you at all times and ensure that there is always enough cash in it.
The case is completely different with a virtual wallet. Money in a bank account is not only convenient, but also a practical form of storing money. When paying with a card, all we have to do is carry that one particular card with us. Going further, this can be turned into an even more convenient solution by dispensing with plastic altogether, in favour of merging the bank account with the smartphone.
The virtual wallet on the phone meets all the needs of the payer. In addition, the person using this form of payment always has it with them. What is more, paying with the phone is a secure form of transaction. The only drawback of the whole project seems to be that in some places it is not possible to pay by contactless.
Responsible smartphone user
Although the application used to make a payment with the phone is surrounded by a whole range of security features, a secure payment depends to a large extent on the user himself. He or she should follow the necessary precautions to ensure that the virtual money remains safe.
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Blokada phone
Locking the phone on which the banking app is installed is essential when it comes to security . It is important that only the user can unlock the device. Ideally, the lock should be personalised - currently it is possible to unlock the phone with a face or fingerprint. Do not set up simple PIN codes or passwords that a potential criminal could easily guess.
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Do not share your device with others
If there is a banking app on the smartphone, the device (and the data available on it) should not fall into the wrong hands. However, if you need to share your phone with someone, it is essential that you log out of the application installed there. It is also a good idea to delete all messages received from the bank as well as your browser history.
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Anti-virus application
To ensure that the data in the mobile banking app is always safe, it is a good idea to download anti-virus software to your phone. This will ensure that your smartphone is scanned in real time and that you receive immediate information about potential threats.
Paying by phone - is it safe?
Most people refrain from attaching a card to their mobile phone, believing that in the event of theft, a thief will have trouble-free access to their bank account. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are a number of safeguards in place to ensure that your funds remain safe - even if your phone is stolen.
The main security features include, first of all, a number of mechanisms that are responsible for encrypting the data found on the smartphone (such as fingerprint or facial recognition). In addition, there is an option to restrict access to certain applications (authorisation with an additional code/password is required to use them). Even if the phone is stolen, it is impossible for a thief to access the encrypted folder.
As an additional security measure for paying securely with the phone, the device lock must be activated with a code/password that must be entered each time the app is used. If the lock is deactivated, the card connected to the smartphone is automatically and immediately removed. It is also possible to remove the card remotely if the phone falls into the wrong hands.
Remember that the card number is also virtual, so you do not show your real bank card number when paying by phone. However, when a plastic card is blocked, its digital counterpart is also blocked.
