Google: Google Wallet is safe, but we will disable prepaid cards – just in case
>Google’s new payment method has been great to those that are able to use it. The convenience of being able to pay with a tap of your smartphone is simply unbeatable. But one of the main concerns has been security, which proved to be an issue this week. The Search Giant has just issued its second official statement about the matter, and it is not looking very pretty.
The first official statement mainly covered the fact that Google Wallet should not be used on rooted devices. Having root access can also put your device at risk.
Another advice was to make good use of lock-screen protection. This would solve the issue, right? But that was until we found out that un-rooted devices were also at danger.
Google has just released another official statement. This one mentions that Google Wallet is still safe to use, as long as you protect your device with a good lock-screen, as well as other precautionary measures. But Google is not taking any chances, and has decided to temporarily disable provisioning of prepaid cards.
This would stop the bad boys from using your prepaid credit, in case the device does not have a screen-lock. Google also asserts that they are taking care of this problem, and will be issuing a permanent fix soon.
We hope that these issues end soon, because we see this service growing substantially in the coming years. Just be careful with your device, and make sure no one can get to your cash. Google assures that Google Wallet is still safer than real wallets and credit cards. So as long as you watch your back, you should be ok.
Protecting your payments with Google Wallet
Over the last few days we’ve received questions and concerns about issues related to the security of Google Wallet. People are asking if Google Wallet is safe enough for mobile phone payments. The simple answer to this question is yes. In fact, Google Wallet offers advantages over the plastic cards and folded wallets in use today.
First, Google Wallet is protected by a PIN — as well as the phone’s lock screen, if a user sets that option. But sometimes users choose to disable important security mechanisms in order to gain system-level “root” access to their phone; we strongly discourage doing so if you plan to use Google Wallet because the product is not supported on rooted phones. That’s why in most cases, rooting your phone will cause your Google Wallet data to be automatically wiped from the device.
Second, we also take concrete actions to help protect our users. For example, to address an issue that could have allowed unauthorized use of an existing prepaid card balance if someone recovered a lost phone without a screen lock, tonight we temporarily disabled provisioning of prepaid cards. We took this step as a precaution until we issue a permanent fix soon.
And just like with any other credit card, you can get support when you need it. We provide toll-free assistance in case you lose your phone or someone manages to make an unauthorized transaction.
Mobile payments are going to become more common in the coming years, and we will learn much more as we continue to develop Google Wallet. In the meantime, you can be confident that the digital wallet you carry provides defenses that plastic and leather simply don’t.
-Osama Bedier, Vice President, Google Wallet and Payments
[Source: Google Commerce Via: Android Central]