Apple Pay is a digital payment service that allows users to make payments using the iPhone rather than cash or a credit card. In an era when data breaches are commonplace, it’s natural to be wary of new services that handle sensitive information like your credit card number.
Thankfully, Apple takes security very seriously. When you add an eligible credit card as a source of payment in Apple Pay, the company neither stores nor has access to the primary account number (PAN) stored on that card. Instead, Apple assigns each eligible card a unique secondary token identifier and encrypts it with Secure Enclave technology to ensure that it remains secure from hackers and cybercriminals. That means your PAN is kept private even if hackers get access to your phone or computer through some other exploit.
In this article, we try to examine in detail how Apple Pay works, the security features that are in place, and places you can use Apple Pay. We also went on to examine some key things to consider when using Apple Pay to prevent you from being exposed to scammers and fraudsters.
How Does Apple Pay Work?
Apple Pay is built into the latest version of the iPhone’s operating system and is designed to work with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor to keep both your phone and the information on it secure. To use Apple Pay, you must first add your credit card information to your iPhone. Once you’ve done that, you can use Apple Pay at any store that accepts contactless payments — just hold your device near the payment terminal.
Apple Pay uses the device’s built-in Secure Element chip to generate a unique device account number that gets sent to the payment terminal. Knowing how Apple Pay works in line with the many changes that go on with iOS is important to your use of the platform and security.
Is Apple Pay Secure?
Yes! In fact, Apple Pay is even more secure than using a credit card at the store to pay for services like those offered on this website — and that’s saying something. While the store employee swipes your card and has easy access to your card number, you don’t have to worry about that happening with Apple Pay. If your iPhone has Touch ID enabled, you simply add your card to the Passbook app and then hold the device near the terminal to pay.
You’ll get an alert on your iPhone that lets you know the payment was made successfully, and that means you can always immediately report such a transaction when you are not the one who made it for immediate rectification. When you use Apple Pay, your card details are never sent over the air. Instead, a one-time token is generated, encrypted and sent to the payment terminal. The merchant will receive your token, along with your name, card type and the amount you’re paying.
Where Can I Use Apple Pay?
While Apple Pay was originally limited to use within the United States, it is now available in a growing number of countries. As of June 2019, Apple Pay is available in the following countries:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lebanon.
It is also available in:
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turkey
- UAE
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
If you are in any of the above-listed countries, you can use Apple Pay seamlessly.
What to Look Out for When Using Apple Pay
Apple Pay is incredibly convenient, but like any other form of payment, you should still be on the lookout for fraud. While scammers can’t get your actual card information, they can still try to scam you by getting your name, phone number or email address. If someone calls you and asks to confirm your information, don’t confirm it!
You should also be careful of emails asking you to confirm your details. If someone asks you to confirm the information in person, they may have seen your name and phone number somewhere (like an online review). If you still aren’t sure, hang up and call your credit card company.
Final Words: Stay Safe and Enjoy!
Apple Pay is a convenient and secure way to pay for goods and services from anywhere you are in the world, so there’s no reason not to use it. Just be sure to keep an eye out for fraud, and you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of this convenient service. Be careful when inputting your credit card details as there are many scammers who will not only defraud you, but can also use your credit card details for other fraudulent activities.
