Fun fact: some Russian banks now issue stickers with card chips in them. You're meant to stick it to the back of your phone to "tap and pay" like in the before times. Especially popular among iPhone users.
@grishka @zonk
For real? Pure cargo cult!
Having two separate devices is at least more secure. Besides, does it even ask for a PIN? Normally one expects it to be secure because the phone acts as an additional security device that performs a biometrics check of the one holding it prior to responding to a challenge, with phone out of the way and no PIN prompt this is madness! 😱
m0xEE, it works exactly like a regular contactless card. The terminal asks for a PIN if the amount is above some threshold.
@grishka @zonk
Good! It's still kinda ridiculous: attaching a card to a phone to pretend you are using your phone for payments instead of using the card directly… But at least it's not insecure — in a way it still is as you always carry your card with your phone, sometimes I take just my phone, but not my wallet and vice-versa 🤷
m0xEE, I don't use one myself but I can totally see the convenience factor. Many times when paying for something you already have your phone out, like you were browsing something on it while waiting or eating, or you just showed the cashier a loyalty card on it, so you just tap it on terminal instead of putting it away, taking out your wallet, taking out your card, and tapping that.
@grishka Yeah, a matter of habit I suppose. Most people have their phone in hand most of the time nowadays — it felt weird for me using the public transportation and seeing even the older people being like that: eyes on their phone most of the time, I only take mine out when I want to reply to a message, look something up or switch to a different album in the audio player 😄
