Electronic Pickpocketing and the Dangers of Contactless Credit Cards

The front card is an example of a contactless credit card while the card behind
it is a regular credit card. Image designed by the author.

They attractive and glossy. They can buy your favorite electronic device or even your dreamhouse. They are very handy and convenient. They are secured, as all banks would like us to believe. They are swipeless and contactless. They are newer generations of credit cards.

But behind the fanciful descriptions of these cards, lies a security and vulnerability blackbox that you and me may exploit so easily as easy as 1-2-3. In the light of the frenzied media attention recently on the privacy and security issues, such as electronic pickpocketing, that are associated with these cards and other RFID-based IDentifications, I wish to provide some essential insight.

In the next few articles, I will discuss some important relevant topics such as but not limited to:

• How contactless and contact credit cards differ from each other.
• Is the current ISO/IEC 14443 standards substandards?
• How easy an electronic pickpocketing is being done.
• How to prevent from being a victim.
• Important things that credit card companies do not want you to know.

So, stay tuned.

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