The post NYC subway security flaw makes it possible to track riders’ journeys appeared first on Best News.
]]>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 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.”
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]]>The post PayPal and Venmo's debit and credit cards come to Apple Wallet appeared first on Best News.
]]>PayPal has long offered credit cards, while Venmo launched its first in 2020 (and has made sure you know about it anytime you use the app or the company sends you an email). With this further offering, you can pay for in-person transactions with PayPal or Venmo using Touch or Face ID on your iPhone or Apple Watch, as well as use Apple Pay to complete digital purchases on these devices and your iPad or Mac.
Adding a PayPal or Venmo card to your Apple Wallet is the same process as any other card. Visit your Apple Wallet app, choose the option to add a debit or credit card and then scan in or manually enter its details. You can also immediately add your PayPal credit or debit card to your Apple Wallet through PayPal's site. However, the PayPal Business Debit Card and Venmo's credit and debit cards will be available to add through their respective apps "in the coming months." PayPal previously rolled out tap-to-pay support on iPhones and Androids, but it was through the company's apps.
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]]>The post Apple may lift NFC restrictions in Europe to escape antitrust fines appeared first on Best News.
]]>The Commission has been investigating Apple since 2020, with Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager previously stating there were “indications that Apple restricted third-party access to key technology necessary to develop rival mobile wallet solutions on Apple’s devices.”
While Apple’s current proposal could get it out of a hefty fine and settle the case against it, it’s not guaranteed to move forward. The Commission will likely confer with Apple’s rivals and customers in the next month or so to determine if it should accept the offer. More than 2,500 banks across Europe use Apple Pay.
Apple also faces a lawsuit in the United States, brought in July 2022 by Iowa’s Affinity Credit Union. Similarly, it accuses Apple of engaging in anti-competitive behavior by illegally restricting iOS users to Apple Pay for any contactless payments.
In September 2023, a US District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White of California ruled that the case would move forward, stating: “Plaintiffs have plausibly alleged that Apple Pay charges arbitrary and inflated fees to issuers, and that competition in the tap-and-pay iOS mobile wallet market would spur innovation and lead to lower prices.” In his decision, White also explained that the plaintiffs properly demonstrated Apple’s alleged and attempted monopolization.
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]]>The post Apple Pay, Apple Card and Wallet were down for some users this morning appeared first on Best News.
]]>On a personal note, I was able to use Apple Pay without issue around 9AM ET to make a pick-up order at Starbucks. After launching in 2014, it took a while for Apple Pay (and other contactless payments options) to reach widespread support in the US. These days you can tap your phone or Apple Watch to pay at most major retailers (except for Home Depot, for some reason).
Update, December 20 2023, 11:00AM ET: This story has been updated to reflect that these issues have been resolved.
This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
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]]>The post Apple offers to open up NFC payments to rival companies in EU antitrust case appeared first on Best News.
]]>The Commission opened an investigation into Apple in 2020 over potentially restricting rival mobile wallet pay developers' access to necessary technology, thus eliminating Apple Pay's competition. Two years later, it announced charges against Apple for allegedly violating the European Union's antitrust laws, which, if proven, could leave Apple with a massive bill.
Apple's proposal compromises on its previous assertions that third parties could negatively impact security. If approved, Apple would, among other things, allow third parties to APIs with NFC functionality — no fee or use of Apple Pay or wallet required. This shift would include access to technology that keeps payment information secure. Apple would apply this to any developers and iOS users registered in the European Economic Area (EEA). However, people outside the EEA might still be able to use third-party apps. Apple also claims it will call upon an independent reviewer in disputed instances where the company denied NFC access. All suggested changes and prior press releases on the case are available here.
As expected, the European Commission has not rushed to accept Apple's proposed commitments. Instead, it has laid them out and requested feedback from Apple's rivals (and any other interested entities) on whether the laid-out changes are acceptable.
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]]>The post How to set up Apple Pay on your iPhone (plus all other Apple devices) appeared first on Best News.
]]>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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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]]>The post How to use Apple Pay on your iPhone for contactless payments appeared first on Best News.
]]>Before using Apple Pay, you’ll need to add at least one credit or debit card to Apple Wallet. You can visit Engadget’s guide to setting up Apple Pay for detailed instructions.
The first thing to know about using Apple Pay in physical retail stores is only some vendors support it. For example, Walmart has long been a holdout, opting instead to push its (QR-code-based) Walmart Pay. Home Depot also doesn’t support it, even as competitor Lowe’s finally began accepting Apple Pay (in stores and its app) in late 2023.
If you aren’t sure whether a store supports it, you can look for a tap-to-pay logo (radiating waves with a hand tapping a card onto it) or the Apple Pay icon. You can also ask Siri to show you nearby locations that accept the service.
Once you’re at an Apple Pay-friendly terminal, do the following on your iPhone:
Double-click the side button on the right side of your iPhone.
Look at your iPhone to authenticate with Face ID (or place your finger on the Touch ID sensor if it’s an older model).
Tap the top of your phone to the card reader, usually near where you see a tap-to-pay logo. You’ll see a checkmark and hear a ding when the payment reads successfully.
Follow these instructions if you’re paying with an Apple Watch:
Double-click the side (lower right) button on your watch.
Tap the Apple Watch to the payment terminal near its tap-to-pay logo. You’ll hear a ding and see a checkmark when the transaction goes through.
If it doesn’t work, ensure the location accepts Apple Pay and that their systems are running. If so, ask someone working there about the best spot to tap on their payment terminal.
If you want to use Apple Pay with a card other than your default one, tap the onscreen card after double-clicking the device’s side button (but before paying). You can swipe through your added cards and choose the one you want before tapping to confirm.
Many websites and third-party apps accept Apple Pay. This not only prevents you from having to enter your credit card info, but it also adds extra security. Apple Pay uses an encrypted one-time “virtual token” instead of your actual credit card info. So if hackers ever breached the vendor’s systems, they’d only see the encrypted token tied to your Apple Pay, which they couldn’t use for additional transactions.
You can use Apple Pay for online (web and in-app) transactions on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro:
When checking out, look for Apple Pay on a website or in an app. Choose that as your payment option in checkout.
When it prompts you for verification, use Face ID (newer iPhones and iPads), Touch ID (Mac and older iPhones and iPads) or Optic ID (Vision Pro) to approve the secure transaction. You’ll hear a ding and see an approval animation when it accepts it.
Note that if you’re using a MacBook (with its lid closed) connected to an external monitor, you can use Apple’s Magic Keyboard with Touch ID rather than opening the laptop’s lid to access its sensor.
Apple Cash lets you send, receive and request money through the Messages app. It’s designed as an alternative to services like Venmo and Cash App, allowing you to exchange funds with people you know and trust.
First, ensure you’ve set up Apple Cash. On iPhone, open the Wallet app and tap the Apple Cash card. If it prompts you, tap “Set up Apple Cash.” On iPad, Apple Watch or Vision Pro, you’ll instead head to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, then choose the Apple Cash card and follow the instructions to set it up.
Once you’ve activated Apple Cash, here’s how to send money:
Open the Messages app and select the chat thread for the person you want to send money to.
Tap the plus button to the left of the text input box.
Select Apple Cash from the fan menu on the left.
Enter the amount you want to send.
Tap Send.
The Apple Cash symbol will appear in a drafted message. Tap the up arrow when you’re ready to send.
Follow the security prompt to complete the transaction. That will mean Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode on iPhone or iPad. On the Apple Watch, you’ll double-tap the side button. On Vision Pro, it will use Optic ID.
Unfortunately, you can’t currently use Apple Pay on Amazon’s website or mobile app. The closest you’ll get is vendors using Amazon Payment Services on their storefronts outside Amazon. The online retailer gives those sellers the option to accept Apple Pay.
If you run into a third-party site or app using Amazon Payment Services, the steps are the same as the “How to use Apple Pay online” steps above. Add the items you want to your cart, choose Apple Pay as your payment option and perform the security steps to verify and complete the transaction.
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