There’s no doubt that it’s convenient, but when it comes to protecting your security, how safe is Apple Pay, really? You may use the app without thinking twice (because, again, convenience is an alluring trait). But in an attempt to get to the bottom of whether the service is truly risk-free, we spoke with security experts and asked: is Apple Pay so safe that we can use it without worrying?
Here’s what you need to know.
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First, some very good news: not only is Apple Pay say, but it’s more secure than using cash, according to many experts.
“You don’t even have to take your card out of your wallet as the NFC (near-field communication) will detect the card reader by being in it’s near proximity without any direct contact and have the payment made,” says Andrew Priobrazhenskiy, a tech analyst and the CEO of e-commerce business DiscountReactor. “You can even employ two-factor authentication for all the payments. A face ID or fingerprint can be set as the passcode. Moreover, neither the merchant nor Apple has access to your original card number. Only you as the card holder are aware of it. The user has to manually enter their card number into each device. Finally, in order to authorize the payments, a tokenization method is used; which is a one-time use encrypted code. Only this code is used to authorize the transaction. Under any circumstances, if the user feels their account has become unsafe or been compromised, they can disable it through their iCloud.”
Tech Expert Adam Garcia, CEO at The Stock Dork agrees. “Apple Pay is one of the safest and most secure tools for managing your personal finances,” Garcia says. “Its two-factor authentication and a complex and complicated passcode make it very secure. What makes it even more secure is that your card number is neither shared with anyone nor stored in your device. You are given a unique Device Account Number, and Apple stores it in a very secure manner in any Apple device you use.”
As with most services and apps, though, there are usually ways to improve upon security.
“In order to better protect yourself I’d suggest utilizing all of Apple Pay’s security features,” Priobrazhenskyi says. “Some of them such as the two-factor identification and choosing a complex passcode, are voluntary options to opt for. If you’d utilize them, there are better chances of protecting yourself since these features are being offered by Apple Pay.”
Another really good thing to do to make Apple Pay more secure is to simply make your device more secure. “Use a device passcode that is unique and hard to guess, and use your Face ID or a Fingerprint to secure your device,” Garcia says.
Take these precautions, but then rest assured that Apple Pay is a safe option when it comes to making money transactions.
