Credit Card Numbers Picked From Your Wallet Without Touching You As You Stroll Down The Street?
- By Grey McKenzie
- Published 06/20/2008
Grey McKenzie
National Cyber Security Founder
Cyber security watchdog & one of the nation's leading cyber security experts, Grey McKenzie is also the Founder of SpyCop Security Software & Soft Media Publishing Incorporated.
His clients include members of the US Department of Homeland Security, US State Department, US Department of Defense, US Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Central Intelligence Agency, State & Local Law Enforcement not to mention over 50,000 companies & individuals worldwide.
He is regularly consulted by industry leaders regarding cyber security issues.
To schedule a procedural, technical and non-technical network security audit of your company call 902-532-2262
Sounds like something from a science fiction movie, but RFID or Radio Frequency Identification Devices are sweeping through our economy and many people are unaware they carry a credit card that is RFID compliant.
If you know what a Paypass reader is, you're ahead of the game.
A Paypass reader is used in coffee shops like Starbucks or many grocery chains are starting to use them to process credit card orders.
The Paypass reader allows you a 'no contact" pass of your card or even just your wallet, over it, without your credit card having to be swiped through a regular credit card processor.
Here's a quick excerpt from Kiro TV that explains it well...
RFIDs are tiny devices stored in credit cards, workplace access cards, grocery store data collecting key chains, library books, transit passes and even ski resort lift tickets and chips used to locate lost pets, and more.
They carry information, such as name, some financial details; possibly even an address, credit card number or even a social security
number.
Information, according to these hackers, that could put people at risk of financial or identity theft, if it falls into the wrong hands.
Recently, they showed KIRO 7 just how easy it is to access an RFID on a credit card using a device available to any buyer online.
"We bought this reader on eBay for $8 and plugged it into a computer and were able to just read other people's cards," said Holman.
"Swipe it, it beeps and then I get the credit card number and name and expiration date on my computer. So not particularly secure.
Anybody who gets access to one of these and knows how to hook it up to a computer can steal your credit cards without even getting near you."
"Could you walk up to somebody and hold it up to their wallet?" KIRO Consumer Investigator Amy Clancy asked.
"Sure definitely, I could just hold it up to your wallet or purse and just get your card number," said Holman.
"This is enough information now for anybody to make a counterfeit card and go into the store and pay with my card."
Full Story
If you know what a Paypass reader is, you're ahead of the game.
A Paypass reader is used in coffee shops like Starbucks or many grocery chains are starting to use them to process credit card orders.
The Paypass reader allows you a 'no contact" pass of your card or even just your wallet, over it, without your credit card having to be swiped through a regular credit card processor.
Here's a quick excerpt from Kiro TV that explains it well...
RFIDs are tiny devices stored in credit cards, workplace access cards, grocery store data collecting key chains, library books, transit passes and even ski resort lift tickets and chips used to locate lost pets, and more.
They carry information, such as name, some financial details; possibly even an address, credit card number or even a social security
Information, according to these hackers, that could put people at risk of financial or identity theft, if it falls into the wrong hands.
Recently, they showed KIRO 7 just how easy it is to access an RFID on a credit card using a device available to any buyer online.
"We bought this reader on eBay for $8 and plugged it into a computer and were able to just read other people's cards," said Holman.
"Swipe it, it beeps and then I get the credit card number and name and expiration date on my computer. So not particularly secure.
Anybody who gets access to one of these and knows how to hook it up to a computer can steal your credit cards without even getting near you."
"Could you walk up to somebody and hold it up to their wallet?" KIRO Consumer Investigator Amy Clancy asked.
"Sure definitely, I could just hold it up to your wallet or purse and just get your card number," said Holman.
"This is enough information now for anybody to make a counterfeit card and go into the store and pay with my card."
Full Story
