Tag Archives: Credit cards

How to set up Apple Pay on your iPhone (plus all other Apple devices)

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Apple Pay is one of the most popular digital payment services in the world, allowing users to buy stuff on iOS apps, the web and in real life. You can use it to pay with your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac, and it's accepted by thousands upon thousands of retailers. The cool thing about Apple Pay is that it actually digitizes debit/credit card chips, giving people the option of contactless payments. All you have to do is put your phone or watch up to the terminal.

However, you can’t do any of that stuff until you set up Apple Pay on your device. Here’s how to do just that.

How to set up Apple Pay on an iPhone

Apple Pay was originally envisioned as a mobile-only platform, so getting it set up on your iPhone will help you with every other device you own. To set up Apple Pay on your phone, add a debit or credit card to the Wallet app.

1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone. Look for a colorful wallet icon or search the phone’s contents to find it.

Set up screen.
Engadget/Lawrence Bonk

2. Tap the Add Card button. You may be prompted to sign in with your Apple ID, so do that.

3. Select the card. The app will ask you what kind of card you’re entering, so click on Debit or Credit.

4. Enter the card information. You can do this manually or by positioning the card so that it appears in the camera frame. This enables the phone to snap a photo of the card. 

5. You can also click on Previous Cards. Clicking on Previous Cards lets you choose any cards you’ve used in the past to bring them into Apple Pay. You’ll get a list of possible cards via purchases made with your Apple ID and Safari AutoFill. Once you tap on a card, authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.

Apple Wallet card options.
Apple

6. Consider other options. Apple Pay also lets you enter driver’s licenses, state IDs and transit cards.

7. Finish up. Once finished, head to Settings to make final adjustments. Tap your preferred option as to how you want your card to appear. You can make it so cards show up on the screen when you double-click the side button or the home button.

8. That’s it. Now you can buy stuff by pulling up a digital replica of your card.

How to set up Apple Pay on an Apple Watch

Apple Watch integrates with Apple Pay for an incredibly convenient payment option, as you don’t even need your phone nearby. Here’s how to get set up on your smartwatch.

1. Grab your phone. This process is quicker if you already have a card entered into your iPhone, but we’ll walk you through both procedures.

2. Head to the Watch app. If you already have a card stored, open up the Watch app. Tap My Watch and then Wallet & Apple Pay.

A list of cards on the app.
Apple

3. You should see a list of available cards. Tap Add next to the card you want and then enter the CVV, which is the number on the back. That’s it. You should be able to use your watch to make payments.

4. Open the Wallet app on your watch. If you’re entering a card manually on the actual watch, start by opening up the Wallet app. Tap the More Options button and then Add Card.

5. Enter card details. Follow on the on-screen prompts to enter your various card details.

6. Finish up. Once finished, head back into the Wallet app. Tap More Options, followed by Default Card. Look for the card you just entered and tap it to set it as the default. You’re good to go.

How to set up Apple Pay on an iPad

The iPad is basically a big iPhone, so the set-up process is similar. You can’t use Apple’s tablet at a physical payment terminal, but it’s a great option for making online purchases.

1. Open up Settings. Head to Settings and tap Wallet & Apple Pay.

A screenshot from iPad.
Engadget/Lawrence Bonk

2. Tap Add Card. You may be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. Have your login credentials handy. 

3. Tap Debit or Credit Card and then Continue. Just like with the iPhone, you can enter card details manually or let the tablet’s camera snap a photo of the card.

4. Consider previously-used cards. You can also click on Previous Cards and select cards that you’ve used in the past. This will bring up a list of possible cards. Tap on a card and authenticate with Touch ID.

How to set up Apple Pay on a Mac

Mac laptops and desktops are also a no-go for physical sales terminals, for obvious reasons. However, it’s still useful to have Apple Pay as an option when buying stuff online. Here’s how to get set up.

Set-up screen.
Engadget/Lawrence Bonk

1. Head to System Settings. On your Mac, head to System Settings. Next, click Wallet & Apple Pay.

2. Click on Add Card. You’ll be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. Enter your credentials and then return to Wallet & Apple Pay.

3. Enter card details. Click Enter Card Details Manually and input your payment information in the appropriate fields, or position the card in front of your computer’s camera so it appears in frame. The computer will snap a photo and record all relevant data. Double-check to make sure everything looks right.

4. You can also use a card that’s already on file with Apple. You should see a list of cards you previously entered for use on the iTunes Store or the App Store. Click on the desired card and enter the security code when asked.

5. That’s all there is to it. Keep an eye on your Apple ID account. If you sign out of your account to let someone else use the computer, you may have to set up Apple Pay again.

That’s it. Apple Pay is set up and ready to go. We also whipped up a guide on how to use the service once set up.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-set-up-apple-pay-on-your-iphone-plus-all-other-apple-devices-130011932.html?src=rss

Forget cash back: Microsoft’s Xbox Mastercard exclusively earns game discounts

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Microsoft announced a new Xbox Mastercard today. Cardmembers can earn points on purchases to redeem on games in the Microsoft Store. The card will launch exclusively for Xbox Insider Program members in the US on September 21, but it will open to all US-based Xbox users next year.

The fruit of a partnership between Microsoft and Barclays, the card (unsurprisingly) encourages you to buy Xbox content. The Mastercard will give users one reward point for each dollar spent on everyday purchases. But the incentive grows to five points per dollar spent at the Microsoft Store. In addition, purchases made at some streaming (including Netflix and Disney+) and dining (including Grubhub and DoorDash) services will earn three points per dollar. Reward points are each worth a penny to be redeemed on Xbox games and add-ons, so if you pay $1,000 for standard purchases using the card, you’ll earn the equivalent of $10 in points for new games.

Five Xbox Mastercard credit cards lined up in a centered horizontal row against a white background.
Xbox

The card will be available in the five “iconic designs” seen above, and you can optionally personalize it with your Xbox Gamertag. The company says it will work with contactless payments and digital wallets, and users will get free access to their FICO credit score. The Xbox Mastercard’s terms and conditions say its APR can be 20.99%, 26.99% or 31.99%, depending on the results of a credit pull.

Microsoft has a few extra perks for signing up and using the card. It says you’ll receive a bonus of 5,000 card points (a $50 value) after your first purchase with the card. Members will also receive three free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate after using the Mastercard for the first time — and you can transfer it to a friend if you’re already a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/forget-cash-back-microsofts-xbox-mastercard-exclusively-earns-game-discounts-185141446.html?src=rss

NYC subway security flaw makes it possible to track riders’ journeys

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The contactless payment system for New York City’s subways has a security hole. Anyone with access to someone’s credit card number can see when and where they entered the city’s underground transit during the last seven days. The problem lies in a “feature” on the website for OMNY, the tap-to-pay system for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which allows you to view your recent ride history using only credit card info. Further, subway entries purchased using Apple Pay — which gives merchants a virtual number instead of your real one — still somehow link to your physical credit card number.

The MTA’s loose implementation could allow stalkers, abusive exes or anyone who hacks into or purchases a person’s credit card information online to find out when and where they typically enter the subway. Joseph Cox of 404 Media initially reported on the story, detailing how (with a rider’s consent) he tracked the stations they entered — with corresponding times. “If I had kept monitoring this person, I would have figured out the subway station they often start a journey at, which is near where they live,” Cox wrote. “I would also know what specific time this person may go to the subway each day.”

“This is a gift for abusers,” Eva Galperin, the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s director of cybersecurity, told Engadget. The OMNY website also allows passengers to create a password-protected account, but it sits below the more prominent “Check trip history” section atop the page, requiring only a number and expiration date without any further security input. “It is a real problem that the option to track your location — without any kind of password security — is available first on the website,” noted Galperin. She says the MTA could have “fixed this simply” by including a PIN or password requirement alongside the credit card field.

The ‘check trip history’ section of the OMNY website. It includes entry fields for entering a credit card number and expiration date.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The website still shows your travel history even if you paid with Apple Pay. The iPhone maker says its tap-to-pay system gives merchants a virtual number rather than the physical card’s number. “And when you pay, your card numbers are never shared by Apple with merchants,” a marketing blurb on the company’s website reads. But an Engadget staffer confirmed that entering their actual credit card number linked to the used Apple Pay account — without having directly used that card to ride — still revealed their seven-day point-of-entry history.

When asked about the OMNY website linking the two regardless, the MTA told Engadget it can’t see the credit card numbers of customers who use Apple Pay. Apple didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment about how the MTA website associates the two without vendors having access to the physical credit card number.

The MTA says it will consider security changes as it improves its system. “The MTA is committed to maintaining customer privacy,” MTA spokesperson Eugene Resnick wrote to Engadget in an email. “The trip history feature gives customers a way to check their paid and free trip history for the last 7 days without having to create an OMNY account. We also give customers the option of paying for their OMNY travel with cash. We’re always looking to improve on privacy, and will consider input from safety experts as we evaluate possible further improvements.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nyc-subway-security-flaw-makes-it-possible-to-track-riders-journeys-195600685.html?src=rss

Chipolo’s new credit card-sized tracker features Find My support

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Chipolo has bobbed around for a while as one of those companies orbiting inside Tile’s universe of Bluetooth-enabled object trackers. But, last year, the company’s One Spot tracker was able to access Apple’s Find My network, giving it the same superpowers as an AirTag. Now, half a year later, the company is launching a credit card-shaped tracker designed to give your wallet a similar level of protection.

The Chipolo Card Spot (sorry, we’re not going to call it the CARD Spot) can be paired to the Find My network with your iOS device. You’ll be able to track it should you leave it behind, and also get the option of notifications if you’ve left it behind when you’re out and about. Chipolo adds that the integral speaker will chirrip at 105dB to ensure that you’ll be able to hear it when you lose it. And that it’ll also withstand water, should you have a mishap during a fishing trip.

If there’s one downside, it’s that the battery isn’t replaceable, so once the two-year claimed lifespan is up, you’ll need to buy a new one. Chipolo does, however, say that you’ll get a 50 percent discount on the replacement and get a pre-paid envelope to return the expired unit. Oh, and you’ll be able to set it into Lost Mode, so when someone in the Find My network passes by, it’ll hopefully ensure your stuff gets returned to you.

Image of the new Chipolo Card Spot, which connects to Apple's Find My Network.
Chipolo

Certainly, a credit card-shaped tracker is going to be invaluable for those folks who want to leverage Apple’s most recent innovation. There are a number of aftermarket AirTag holders that will enable it to slide (slightly awkwardly, mind) into a credit card slot, and now we’re seeing more wallets with space for an AirTag hanging off the side. But all of those are designed to accommodate the slightly impractical nature of that round design.

Chipolo says that pre-orders for the Card Spot will open from today, with shipping expected to begin next month. For a single unit, it'll be $35, while a pair will be priced at $60, and if you'd rather get a single Card Spot and a pair of One Spot trackers, it'll be $77. 

Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!

Amazon says it will stop accepting UK-issued Visa credit cards on January 19th

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Amazon has escalated its fight with Visa: Starting on January 19th, 2022, the e-commerce giant will stop accepting Visa credit cards issued in the UK. It notified Amazon UK customers in an email about the change, blaming the high fees Visa charges for credit card transactions. Buyers can at least continue using their Visa credit cards throughout the holidays, but after that, they'd have to switch to a Visa debit card or another credit card like a Mastercard or an AMEX.

An Amazon spokesperson said in a statement:

"The cost of accepting card payments continues to be an obstacle for businesses striving to provide the best prices for customers. These costs should be going down over time with technological advancements, but instead they continue to stay high or even rise. As a result of Visa’s continued high cost of payments, we regret that Amazon.co.uk will no longer accept UK-issued Visa credit cards as of 19 January, 2022. Customers can continue to use all debit cards (including Visa debit cards) and other non-Visa credit cards to shop on Amazon.co.uk. With the rapidly changing payments landscape around the world, we will continue innovating on behalf of customers to add and promote faster, cheaper, and more inclusive payment options to our stores across the globe."

Meanwhile, a Visa spokesperson said the company is disappointed that "Amazon is threatening to restrict consumer choice in the future." They added: "When consumer choice is limited, nobody wins." They also said that Visa is working towards a resolution with the e-commerce giant so that cardholders can keep on using their UK-issued Visa credit cards on the website "without Amazon-imposed restrictions come January 2022." It's worth noting that Amazon has a much better relationship with other credit card providers. The e-commerce giant currently has a partnership with Mastercard for consumer credit cards and with AMEX for business cards in the UK.

The companies may be engaging in a public war in an effort to get better terms from each other. Amazon has been putting pressure on the credit card brand over the past few months and started imposing a 0.5 percent surcharge on Visa credit card purchases on its Singapore website on September 15th. A month-and-a-half after that, Amazon also started imposing a surcharge on Visa transactions in Australia. In both instances, the company offered customers a gift card (AU$20 and SG$30) to add an alternative payment method that isn't a Visa credit card.

Square makes its Cash App available for teen use

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Square is now allowing all teenagers to use Cash App, after restricting it to adults until now. Those aged 13 to 17 will need permission from a parent or guardian to use the app, however.

Users can send money to each other and receive discounts on some purchases. Teens can also use a Visa debit card called Cash Card to pay for goods. They can add the Cash Card to Apple Pay or Google Pay, and they'll receive a physical version of the card too. The card is customizable — you can choose a color and stamps, draw on it or make it glow in the dark. Changing the design costs $5 and there might be ATM withdrawal fees too.

There are some restrictions on accounts for those aged 13 to 17. Those users' parents or guardians will have access to their transaction records, including transfers, and they can shut down a teen's account and Cash Card at any time. Parents and guardians will be the legal owners of teens' accounts (13- to 17-year-olds will be classified as authorized users).

Under 18s will be locked out of some parts of the app too. They won't be able to trade bitcoin or access the Investing, Borrow, Check Deposit, Paper Money Deposit or Cross-Border Payments features. They can't use their Cash Card at certain businesses either, including bars, car rental places or hotels.

To request access to the app, teens will need to enter their parent or guardian’s information when they're signing up for a card or sending a peer-to-peer payment form their balance. Cash App will then contact the teen's parent or guardian for approval.

Recommended Reading: Behind the scenes of Netflix’s ‘Dark Crystal’ prequel

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The creators of 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' just loved throwing puppets Liz Shannon Miller, The Verge Netflix's Dark Crystal prequel series debuted this week, offering fans another look at the world created by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Th...

Facebook groups for buying and selling credit cards still abound

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We might think that stolen credit cards and personal information only get traded on the dark web, but the information is moving in plain sight on Facebook. According to intelligence firm Cisco Talos, there are dozens of groups on the social network t...

Guy Gets Fined for Implanting Metro Card Chip In Arm

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33-year old biohacker Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow (which is coincidentally what I call my cat) was recently charged $220 by transportation authorities in Sydney, Australia for implanting the chip from an Opal metro card in his arm and “using public transport without a valid ticket and for not producing a ticket to transport officers.”

It was a brilliant plan. Plus he was on his way to becoming the ultimate cyborg. Sadly, it just didn’t work out and he got caught. His lawyer argued that transport legislation had advanced to include methods of contactless payment through MasterCard and some smartphones. But the judge said that while the legislation may catch up with technology in the future, the law of the day needed to be followed. Plus, he clearly hates cyborgs.

Mr Meow Meow says that he’s planning on replacing his Opal chip with one that will hold all of his personal information, including credit cards and memberships. That’ll show ’em.

If this guy wants to be a cyborg and save time by not looking for his card, who cares? Just as long as he doesn’t become a cyborg supervillain and terrorize us all. Though we couldn’t take a villain with his name seriously.

[via Geekologie]

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